APPENDIX 52
Letter to the Clerk of the Committee from
Groundwork South East
Joan Walley MP has suggested I write to you
requesting Groundwork be invited to give oral evidence to the
Environmental Audit Committee as part of its "Learning the
Sustainability Lesson" inquiry.
Groundwork is a federation of 48 locally-owned
Groundwork Trusts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, between
them working with over 100 local authorities to deliver "joined-up"
solutions to the challenges faced by our most deprived communities.
The values of empowerment and capacity building
are at the heart of all of Groundwork's activity, and formal and
informal learning are integral to many projects and programmes.
In terms of learning for sustainability, Groundwork works in and
with schools to deliver formal education, with young people outside
of school to support personal development and employability and
with adults both in communities and in the workplace. All of this
work is undertaken in partnership with a wide range of national,
regional and local organisations in the public, private and voluntary
sector.
I understand that the inquiry will focus on
learning what works from experience delivery agents. Groundwork
is an organisation centred on delivering change. Since 1981, Groundwork
has delivered projects in nearly 4,000 schools, actively involving
350,000 pupils and bringing benefits to two million more. We have
also worked directly with some 12,5000 teachers providing training,
skills development and new classroom resources.
Education for Sustainable Development has the
potential to be a key driver for a range of current and future
government targets, raising school standards and contributing
to citizenship, youth work, regeneration, employability and enterprise.
At the moment, however, it is not being effectively championed
within Government. In particular its potential is undervalued
by DfES and the links between ESD and vocational skills have not
been fully grasped elsewhere in Whitehall or by agencies, such
as LSCs, who view ESD as a "desirable extra" rather
than an integral element of their core operation. Groundwork believes
that, with greater leadership and support for those involve din
its delivery, ESD could offer a powerful and effective vehicle
for improving the prospects of individuals from cradle to grave.
Groundwork has a great deal of experience, knowledge
and ideas to bring to this inquiry and would very much welcome
the opportunity to share this with the committee through oral
evidence.
If you would like any further information about
Groundwork, please do not hesitate to contact me. I have attached
a copy of our initial submission to the inquiry for ease of reference.
[25]
25 See Ev 241-245. See also:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/environment/ypei-00.asp
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/government/pfbs-00.asp
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/agri/bass-00.asp
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/education/bofs-00.asp
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