An exciting social value initiative at Catterick Garrison is moving at pace thanks to the generous support of our Grounds Maintenance contractors, Tivoli Group Ltd.
e50k is a social value enterprise supported by Amey which will provide opportunities for local military families to really feel a part of their thriving community and enable them to work together to enhance the lived experience of everyone living at the Garrison.
Within Catterick Garrison is a small allotment and garden space, known as the Hipswell Habitat, which is currently managed by two volunteers. There is also a smaller woodland area known as Bramble Woods which has the potential to become a thriving woodland for flora and fauna conservation plus a wonderful space for forest school and outdoor learning activities. It is currently in a bad state of repair due to lack of funds and e50K has sought independent funding to bring the woodland back to life for current and future military families living and settling across the Garrison.
Tivoli Ltd are playing a key part in transforming these areas and have already donated two truckloads of bark to enhance the area for families. Plans are underway to donate compost and bark helping e50K and volunteers establish a community allotment with plans to sell the produce at a local pop-up shop/cafe in the coming months.
Tivoli are donating tree trunks to the Veteran’s Woodcraft workshop for veterans to make crafts and generate a profit to purchase more supplies. Veterans Woodcraft delivers courses to help people who are battling against suicide, PTSD, mental health issues and physical disability, mainly caused by their military service. By working with wood and learning new skills they can rebuild their lives, grow in confidence and develop resilience to help them recover.
Any logs not used by the veterans will be donated to a not-for-profit charity called Chop Sticks, who support adults with a learning disability. Chop Stick members convert scrap timber that would otherwise be put to landfill sites, into kindling wood by working as a team to sort, chop and pack the wood which is then sold locally.
Dr Elizabeth Newman-Earl, founder and CEO of e50K, said: “The support received, in the form of volunteer hours, materials and networking from both Amey and Tivoli has been hugely beneficial to Hipswell Habitat and Bramble Woodlands. The space has huge potential to support and enhance the local community and it is truly inspiring to see large companies ‘give back’ through social value initiatives such as these! We look forward to further collaboration in the coming months and years.”
William Steele, Tivoli National Operations Director, added: “We are honoured to support the e50k initiative alongside Amey by helping to enhance Hipswell Habitat and providing material for the Veteran’s Woodcraft workshop at Catterick Garrison. Both projects will provide such valuable benefits for local veterans and military families, which we hope will be enjoyed long into the future. We are always looking for sustainable ways to manage green waste and redirect it from landfill sites, so knowing that our donated logs for the Veteran’s Woodcraft workshop will be put to good use and any leftovers will be recycled is fantastic. Well-done to everyone involved.”