Greeniversity celebrates success! - News - Greeniversity

Greeniversity celebrates success!

Peterborough’s green skills scheme is celebrating the success of its first three months with a ‘Green Degree’ event on 17th March.

Launched in December 2009 Greeniversity provides free opportunities for adults in Peterborough to learn something new and environmentally friendly, just for fun.

Very much a community project, Greeniversity encourages local people to share ‘green’ skills with other local people who are keen to learn something new. Green is used in the broadest sense to mean anything that leads to a healthier, more active life with a low impact on the environment - from growing food and keeping bees, to re-fashioning clothes, knitting and tai chi.

Over 200 local people have now signed up to Greeniversity through the website www.greeniversity.org.uk. Courses can be browsed and booked through the website, and classes take place in various locations around the city.

Karen Lawrence is the Greeniversity Project Officer from Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT), the green charity behind the scheme. She is delighted with how well Greeniversity has been received by people in the city. She said, "Our starting point for Greeniversity was the thought that we ought to be making more of the fantastic array of green skills in the city – after all that’s vitally important if Peterborough is to become the UK’s Environment Capital."

"This project builds confidence, raises aspirations and encourages people to try learning new things even though the last time they attended a class may have been many years ago at school. The project develops skills useful in work and life and we’ve found that participants are more likely to seek out further opportunities for learning after they have taken the first step with a free, fun Greeniversity course."

"The Green Degree event is all about saying thankyou to our teachers and learners and celebrating the scheme’s success. Nicole Lawrence who appeared on the last series of X Factor will be joining us at the event – she’s certainly someone that truly understands the value of personal development and achieving your potential."

There are a number of very special Greeniversity teachers and learners who have really benefitted from the project. John, who is a volunteer at the Green Backyard, hosted the very popular wild foods course. Greeniversity has given him the opportunity to share skills that he is proud of. He attended a train the trainer course which boosted his confidence coaching him in how to share his knowledge with others. John has also picked up important IT skills like how to use an email account.

Similarly, the Desi Ladies are a very special group of women who were inspired to get involved with Greeniversity after attending a facial massage course. The group, who had no previous experience of using computers, have since attended a web workshop, and are now using www.greeniversity.org.uk as well as sending and receiving emails!

The Green Degree event aims to celebrate all the achievements of all Greeniversity’s teachers and learners. It will take place on the evening of 17th March in the John Clare Theatre, Central Library, Peterborough. Entertainment will be provided by Greeniversity members and will include belly dancing.

If you are interested in finding out more about Greeniversity there are still a few places at the event available – contact Karen Lawrence on 01733  866441or email: karen.lawrence@pect.org.uk

If you haven’t already signed up to Greeniversity click here and register for free now.

Greeniversity is a Transformation Fund project, part of an initiative from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills to increase informal adult learning in the UK.

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