This summer sees the roll-out of Greener Together, a pilot project which aims to address environmental inequality linked to social and racial injustices in London.
Greener Together is supported by the Mayor of London and led by a number of partners who came together as part of the Civic Futures programme, which looks at building better relationships between local government and civil society.
The environment can have a disproportionate impact on Londoners, with those living in deprived areas most likely to experience poor air quality, cold, damp homes and limited access to green space. The chosen area for the pilot is Alma Street near Stratford in Newham, East London, which according to our data, it is one of the most environmentally deprived areas in London. The project is coordinated by local residents.
One of those residents, Billie Holmes, told us a bit more about the project…
Why did you want to get involved in Greener Together?
When I heard about Greener Together, I wanted to get involved straight away. For years I’ve been trying to get something like this going in the area: trying to create a better sense of community and run activities which are more inclusive for all residents.
It’s a very important project, and long overdue in our area. As well as strengthening our community spirit, it’s an opportunity to make the area greener. Communities need to start educating themselves on how to work together to make improvements in their area, and being kinder to the environment is a big aspect of that.
Why do you think your neighbourhood is a good location for the project?
Alma Street and the surrounding area has been neglected over the years, or at least it feels that way by the residents. I’ve lived here for decades and seen how homes, streets and communal areas still need significant improvements. Newham has a lot of deprivation in general, so it’s not a surprise to hear about the poor air quality and effects of climate change in our area.
Over the years, the roads have become more congested and we’re worried about air pollution and public safety. Also, there are no good quality green spaces near us to spend time in. These kinds of things impact us in lots of different ways: health, wellbeing, friendships – everything really. There is a negative impact on the whole neighbourhood and gives young people a sense of hopelessness. There is little room for them to grow and achieve.
We want a cleaner, greener neighbourhood to spend time with our children, friends and families. The community needs to stand up and say something to get these things done. We deserve the same opportunities and a decent quality of life like everyone else.
How do you hope residents will benefit from the project?
Overall, I hope that working together on this project will improve the quality of our lives as individuals and as a community. It can be a strong foundation that can then be built on in the future.
In terms of specifics, I’d like to see a stronger community spirit, including more events and activities that are open to all ages and different cultures. It will give more opportunities for residents to talk to each other for support and advice. I’d like to see the area cleaned up – getting rid of the waste and rubbish which gets left around the neighbourhood and make it feel like a nice place to live rather than a dumping ground. And obviously I want to make the area greener – making the streets better for playing, recreation and socialising.
As a disabled person, I also hope people will start supporting each other more – reaching out to protect the most vulnerable and increase a sense of responsibility for each other.
What have you learned so far by being involved?
I’m learning about ways to make our community greener and ways to build the support of my neighbours on the project. It’s actually very hard to get lots of the community involved and hear a wide selection of voices and opinions. I’m also learning a lot from the other coordinator on the project: she has lots of ideas and brings a fresh perspective.
I hope to continue to do something like this in the future, so I want to build on my skills in this area: education, health and wellbeing and ensuring people have a better quality of life.
How do you think this project could influence other communities across the city?
It’s not about one community, it’s about working together to make positive impacts over the whole world. Climate change is a problem that will impact so many communities, just like us, and we need to work together to solve it.
I hope people take inspiration from our new community garden or start up community allotments. A lot of people in high rise flats don’t have access to these kinds of spaces and they can be really therapeutic and good for our health. I also hope people cut down on their waste, especially food waste, and look into community composting so that the programme gives something back to residents as well as benefiting the environment.
I cycle for my health and because it’s fun. When you’re in a car, you miss out on everything. On a bike I can feel the air and I’m connected to nature outside, not locked away and disconnected from it. I hope we can help other communities to realise these are positive choices that help everyone.
Is there anything else you wanted to say about Greener Together?
Every so often, I get disheartened about some of the negative environmental impacts in our area, but then I take a step back and realise we have to deal with these issues now before they get worse. It’s hard to do something on your own, but though Greener Together there are like-minded people and a goal which we can achieve by working together.
You can see the current project details at www.greenertogether.co.uk, but please be aware that the mailing list and social media channels are designed for residents’ use only.
If you require more information about the project, please email [email protected].