News from Lemos&Crane

Coming Soon: Growing Localities Awards 2013/2014

Last year, City Bridge Trust and Lemos&Crane launched the Growing Localities Awards, which celebrated innovative use of nature and green spaces to improve and enhance lives across the capital. The awards were part of a wider initiative aiming to make use of London’s open spaces to teach new skills, encourage community engagement and reduce social isolation. All of the shortlisted and awarded entries were using nature-based projects to bring communities together and improve livelihoods of London’s residents, and especially those who might be excluded or vulnerable.

More information on last year's awards, including details of the shortlisted and awarded entries and a downloadable PDF of The Knowledge - the accompanying publication to the awards, can be found here.

Following on from the success of Growing Localities 2012/13, Lemos&Crane working with City Bridge Trust are preparing to launch an enhanced version of the scheme, to culminate in 2014. Growing Localities 2013/14 will recognise a wide range of projects and people working to use London’s green spaces to improve the livelihood of its residents.

This year, entries are invited for projects and initiatives that involve any one or combination of:

Gardening and growing food – for communal eating and small-scale enterprise
Looking after animals – bees, chickens, pigs, etc for the experience of care but also to farm
Nature-themed arts and crafts – woodcraft, photography, film-making, writing, etc
Educational activities about nature and wildlife – including trips and excursions to teach people about flora and fauna
Reclaiming and developing wasteland – projects initiated and led by residents and tenants
‘Green’ exercise – groups for walking, cycling, running, etc with a nature theme

Entries are invited from not-for-profit organisations such as:

Community-based and voluntary organisations
Faith groups
Health organisations
Homeless agencies
Hospices
Prisons
Resident committees
Schools
Social housing providers
Social care providers
Supported housing providers (providing mental health services, substance misuse, learning disabilities, etc)

Entries will be judged based on criteria including

Originality – the distinctiveness and memorability of the project idea
Replicability – how others could be inspired by and run similar projects themselves
Reach - the numbers of people involved in the project, particularly in engaging the wider community
Diversity - of people engaged, particularly those who are ‘hard to reach’ or have challenging needs and who are brought together with the local community
Impact – of the project (demonstrated qualitatively or quantitatively) on people’s health, well-being, relationships, skills, knowledge, sense of purpose and belonging.

Prizes

There will be one overall winner (receiving £1,000), along with runner-up prizes (£500 each) and also certificates for highly-commended entries. Winners will be announced, and prizes awarded at a prestigious ceremony in the new year.

The awards will soon be open for entry. More information including how to enter will be available on the Lemos&Crane website. In the meantime, for more information on the awards, please contact Sarah.

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