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Learn ‘green skills’ for free - Peterborough’s Greeniversity launches…
Peterborough Greeniversity was officially launched on Friday 4th December by Richard Howitt, MEP for the East of England.
The green education scheme is being run by environmental charity Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) and will offer a range of green courses from knitting to bike maintenance, from healthy cooking to insulating your own loft. Classes will be held across the city in many different locations.
Greeniversity connects people who have green skills with others who want to learn green skills. A number of volunteer Greeniversity teachers, keen to pass on their skills to small groups of local people, and Greeniversity students keen to learn, have already signed up.
Hugh Cripps, Chief Executive of PECT has already signed up as a Greeniversity teacher offering a class on understanding natural history through fossils and rocks. Hugh believes Greeniversity is an important part of Peterborough’s journey towards becoming the UK’s Environment Capital.
He said, “The inspiration for Greeniversity came from local people who have some amazing green skills - take the team at the Green Backyard who are experts in growing and cooking produce, or the local bee-keeping association who make some of the best tasting honey around. We believe the city’s green skills are priceless.
“Our hope is that Greeniversity will inspire people to learn something new. The emphasis is on informal, hassle free learning for all adults. You won't be signed up for ten week courses, just whatever suits you. The key thing is having fun while you pick up new skills, meet new people, and discover how being green improves your quality of life.”
Greeniversity teachers...
All Greeniversity teachers receive training so they feel confident sharing their know-how. Many teachers, like Sophie Antonelli from the Green Backyard community garden project, have also signed up as Greeniversity students. Sophie said, “When I heard about Greeniversity, I knew instantly that I wanted to become involved. It didn’t strike me at first that I would be teacher material - I had totally forgotten that I had skills I could share with others.
”My first thoughts were, I don’t know how to teach, I have no training and I have little time for lengthy courses. When I found out more I realised that these things don’t matter and there would be support for me to develop my skills as a teacher.
“The first course I’ll offer is how to make a planet friendly lip balm. But the Green Backyard has given me many skills that I would love to share, for example, composting, pond building, growing vegetables, planting orchards, making cider and the cycles of natural planting.”
Greeniversity students...
Charmaine Moss from Werrington was one of the first to sign up as a Greeniversity student. She is especially keen to pick up some ‘eco-fashion’ tips, “I’ve always been interested in fashion and altering my clothes, I want to learn how to do it properly.
“I’m definitely signing up for the Credit Crunch Chic course which is due to be run in January by Peterborough College of Adult Education.
“I was looking for a way of learning something new outside of my job that was fun and not time consuming. I didn’t want anything formal that you have to pay for then commit too, my life’s too busy for that. So when I heard about Greeniversity I thought that’s just the thing for me. I’m really looking forward to using my creative energy and meeting new people”
Greeniversity is now officially open and the team from PECT are calling for both teachers and students to sign up and get involved.
How to get involved...
More information on becoming a Greeniversity teacher is available on www.greeniversity.org.uk where you can also browse and book classes.
For people who are not confident using a computer or the internet, help is available. Contact Karen Lawrence on 01733 866441.
Funding for this project...
Funding for the Peterborough Greeniversity is from the £20 million Transformation Fund, launched by Government to offer funding for innovative informal adult learning projects in England. This brings to life The Learning Revolution, a White Paper presented to Parliament in March 2009.
Notes to Editor
Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) is a charity set up following Peterborough’s designation as a UK Environment City in 1992. PECT carries out research and implements practical projects to protect and improve the environment. Our mission at PECT is to lead and support the city in delivering growth and regeneration in a truly environmentally sustainable way.
As a successful charity we work with a wide variety of stakeholders to make a difference for our environment – through innovation, enterprise and commitment to action on the ground. PECT has a strong track record of delivering projects of regional and national significance. It has a staff of 35 working on initiatives from green spaces to business environmental management to sustainable communities and lifestyles.
For further information please contact:
Nyree Ambarchian, Marketing & Communications Officer
Tel: 01733 866 437
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.pect.org.uk
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