Hounslow Council Makes Call for 'Green Heroes'


Local people asked to join Community Reference Groups

Alison Lakey (left) takes part in a litter pick with children from Belmont Primary and staff member Jenny Nicholas
Alison Lakey (left) takes part in a litter pick with children from Belmont Primary and staff member Jenny Nicholas

Hounslow Council is making a call for local people to join one of the borough’s Community Reference Groups (CRGs).

It is looking for people concerned about environmental issues who can help the council rise to the challenges of climate change.

People from all walks of life are being encouraged to sign up to one of three CRGs and help to make the borough a cleaner, greener and healthier place.

CRGs are groups of like-minded people from all backgrounds who have a shared interest in improving their neighbourhood and environment.

They meet regularly to discuss and address environmental issues. The groups work closely with Hounslow Council officers to improve environmental projects and services.

Now, the Council is updating the groups to expand the range of important issues they cover.

The three groups are the Cleaner Greener GRG, the Climate and Clean Air CRG and the Youth CRG.

The Cleaner Greener CRG will concentrate on parks and open spaces, waste and recycling, sustainable transport and environmental education.

Climate and Clean Air CRG issues include improving the borough's air quality and supporting the goal of Hounslow becoming a net-zero carbon borough.

The Youth CRG will be for young people aged 18 and 25 who want to play a role in shaping the borough’s response to environmental issues.

Alison Lakey is a current member of the Climate and Clean Air CRG. A business manager at Hounslow’s Belmont Primary School, she has been using her time with the CRG to support the school’s environmentally-friendly aspirations.

She said, “Our school is dedicated to helping to make Hounslow a cleaner, greener and healthier place to live. Being part of the Community Reference Group means that we are at the heart of the conversation about these issues in the borough. It’s great to collaborate with other people and the council. The groups have a real input into how we all tackle these important issues and make life better for generations to come.”

The new CRGs will run for two years and meet four times a year, either virtually or face-to-face. The meetings will typically last for two hours. Group members may also be invited to take part in more in-depth workshops as part of their roles.

Hounslow Council's Cabinet Member for Communities and Climate Change, Councillor Katherine Dunne, said, "Environmental issues such as our green spaces, the quality of the air we breathe and the challenges of climate change affect everyone in our borough.

"The only way we can address these issues is by working together to ensure the safety of our borough for the future."

"These will be incredibly rewarding community roles where you will work directly with the Council and its partners to bring about real and lasting changes."

"We want people from different backgrounds and all ages to come forward."

"We particularly want to hear from young people. They are the future of the borough and it is they who will be most affected by the changes we are seeing. It is vitally important that they are part of the solution.”

To find out more and to express an interest in joining one of the CRGs, visit: www.hounslow.gov.uk/hounslow-crg.

You can also email environmental.champion@hounslow.gov.uk for more information.

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February 8, 2022