We are extremely proud to announce that EMS won the Engaging the Community Category at the Humber Renewable Awards 2014 last night at the KC Lightstream Stadium.

Jan Boyd said “It was a huge honour to collect this award on behalf of EMS Ltd in recognition all of the community work we have undertaking over the last 12 months. I would also like to thank the staff for all their hard work and our dedicated Board of Trustees for their support.”

“The night was a great success for us but also Humber Area judging by the sheer number of companies now involved in the renewables sector.”

EMS Ltd CEO Jan Boyd and Vice Chair Annabel Treweek at the Humber Renewable Awards 2014

Hull & East Riding Greenshare 2nd Annual Conference Wednesday 19 March 2014, 10am-3.30pm at the Guildhall, Hull

***Just a few places left – register by Thursday 6 March 2014 to be guaranteed your place***

Have you booked your place for the Hull & East Riding Greenshare 2^nd Annual Conference?

The conference is for any organisations, businesses or individuals with an interest in environmental issues in the broadest sense – all welcome.

Our guest speakers will be in attendance to discuss the following topics:

Simon Bowens, Friends of the Earth Yorkshire Region: Energy in the UK – what doe it mean for Hull and Yorkshire

Lisa Bovill, Hull Advice & Kate MacDonald, Hull and East Riding Timebank Alternative Exchange Mechanism

Joanna Bevan, City University New York: Community Resilience

Mick Marston, UK Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens

Joe Atkinson, Permaculture Association: Permaculture

Throughout the day we will be holding a variety of table discussions each with an environmental theme, you will be invited to choose which ones you would like to attend. 

Shown below are some of the options available, many more will also be available:

·       Inglehome: Transforming a typically inefficient Hull terrace into a cosy, low energy superhome with zero bills.

Community Resilience: What makes a resilient community and ask people to consider 7 elements identified in the ‘Rainbow of Resilience’ and how that relates to their own geographical community.  We will start to uncover what factors make up a strong community and it also a showcase of how to run a pop up mini focus group for community asset mapping.

Energy Estuary – Hull’s real role in the energy revolution:We will be discussing the state of UK energy policy including fracking, renewables, biomass and much more and the role of communities to lead the way in creating an affordable, secure and low carbon energy system fit for the challenges of the 21^st Century.

There will be also the opportunity to take part in practical interactive sessions and networking opportunities.

To cover the cost of refreshments and a locally sourced buffet lunch there is a small charge for attending this event.

To see the sliding scale of delegate fees and to book your place, please go to the Eventbrite website via the link below.

We look forward to seeing you on 19th March.

All are welcome to attend ~ you do not have to be a member of the network.  Booking is essential.

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/green-share-2014-tickets-10078145003?aff=es2&rank=36&sid=f0dd7f4f7f5711e3ab9012313b01554c

If you have problems using eventbrite please contact Sharon on 613281 or Liz on 613451.

The Green Prosperity/Food 360 team will be running sessions to develop our ‘Grow It, Eat It’ area at East Hull Community Farm, Barham Road, HU9 4EE (next to Andrew Marvell academy). This area provides a learning resource and activity area where we work every week with local residents, including young families, the elderly, homeless individuals, ex-offenders, school children and youth groups, to help them learn more about growing, harvesting and cooking their own fruit and vegetables.

Volunteers can expect to take part in a variety of activities, from seed-sowing to building raised beds and planters, to cooking pizzas in our outdoor pizza oven. All volunteers will have the chance to learn more about organic gardening principles and practices from our gardening team. We can also pay all travel expenses and provide a light lunch at these sessions and volunteers are welcome to just come to part of a session if they cannot make the full session. Volunteers will need strong boots or wellies and warm clothing; all other equipment will be provided.

Dates:

Weekly Gardening Volunteering Days starting in March – these will run 1-3pm every Wednesday from Weds 5th March and are open to anyone living in the Southcoates or Longhill Wards of East Hull.

Monthly Gardening Volunteering Days starting in March – these will run 10am-3pm on the first Tuesday of every month, from Tues 4th March and are open to anyone living in Hull & the East Riding.

If you would like more information or are interested in attending a session please contact Andy Steele on 01482 710177 or Laura Heath on 01482 782400.”

Hull Seed Swap
Saturday 1st February 2014, 12noon-4pm
Freedom Centre
Preston Road
Hull
HU9 3QB
Seed Swap Poster
Building on the success of the local Green Prosperity and Food 360 projects, which work to help people to become more self-sustainable and reduce their carbon footprint, plans have now been finalised for Hull’s first Seed Swap event.

The aim is to encourage local individuals, families and community groups to get together to benefit from free growing talks and workshops, and to share seeds, information and resources for their mutual benefit.

Groups and individuals from across Hull are encouraged to come along to enjoy talks from an exciting line-up of famous gardening experts from around the country, including top florist Dr Rachel Petheram, currently featuring on BBC2’s Great British Garden Revival, founder of the worldwide Incredible Edible movement Mary Clear, and Sheena Cooper from the Secret Seed Society, an inspirational organisation who get children enthused about growing and cooking vegetables. There will also be a ‘homemade takeaway’ cookery demo and a speaker from the Beverley Beekeepers Association, amongst others.

In addition, hundreds of varieties of seeds will be available at the event to swap or to take away for a small donation.
There will also be an outdoor market where a diverse array of traders will be showcasing the very best local produce, which will be available to sample and purchase throughout the day.

On the first floor of the Freedom Centre children and families will be able to enjoy fun crafts and seed art activities.
The event, including admittance to all talks and workshops is completely FREE, and so we are hopeful that residents of East Hull and gardeners from across the city and beyond will turn out to support the event.

It is our intention that this will be the first of an annual event that will be hosted by a different organisation each year, to encourage increased collaboration and cohesiveness amongst Hull’s many fantastic growing projects.

Organiser Bryony Macfadyen said of the event ,”Having been inspired by seed swaps elsewhere in the country, I thought it would exciting to bring the idea back to Hull. I hope it will be a great day for sharing seeds and ideas and helping our communities to grow.”

EMS Ltd who are the lead partner in the Big Lottery funded Green Prosperity project have been very busy visiting residents and providing them with energy monitors free of charge. Residents are also provided with practical advice and support on energy saving measures so they can reduce the amount of energy they use and save themselves some money.

Andy Rees the Volunteer Coordinator for the Green Prosperity Project has fitted the bulk of the monitors and said:  “I have come across a number of different meter box setups but fortunately all the monitors have been successfully installed and residents given a range of advice and support so they can really think about the amount of electricity they use in their homes.

I have also sat with a number of residents and looked an energy price comparison websites and some have saved over £250 a year, which is amazing.”

Residents who live in the Longhill or Southcoast East wards can call to arrange for a free monitor to be installed by call the Green Prosperity Offices on:  01482 710177

First energy monitor being installed at Craven Lea Community House

A Hull-based environmental charity has given its promotional literature a facelift in a bid to raise its profile across the Humber region.

Environmental Management Systems (EMS) – a registered charity based on Preston Road Village Centre, east Hull – embarked on the exciting marketing project to increase awareness of the range of the services it offers.

EMS appointed Hull agency Mercury Design and Marketing Ltd, following a rigorous tendering process, to develop a new brand, a promotional video, an environmentally-friendly brochure and an updated website.

The new material is intended to appeal to a variety of target audiences including members of the community through to key stakeholders in local governments across the sub-region. The literature reinforces the message that EMS is driving environmental change within local communities, illustrating the positive impact the charity has had on local people.

The promotional video brings the charity’s current and future projects to life, giving a creative and visual understanding of the services and benefits EMS provides to communities and businesses.

Jan Boyd, chief executive, says the main focus of EMS is to work closely with local communities to meet the aims of the charity.

“We are looking to protect and nurture the environment but still deliver an effective, cost-efficient service by working conscientiously with our clients, partners and community groups,” she said.

“The aim of the new eco-brochure, promotional video and website is to raise the profile of the good work we are doing so that we can further expand our service offering across the Humber region.”