Charities attend Green Impact Forum in Folkestone

KENT Community Foundation brought together members of the voluntary sector at a Green Impact Forum recently at the Three Hills Sports Park, in Folkestone.

Over 90 attendees listened to speeches from community groups, including, Allington Millennium Green, Sunken Garden Society, Rainham Eco Hub and Mutual Aid Road Reps CIC, who have taken steps towards eco-sustainability. The participants then enjoyed lively discussions about the environment, what it means to local communities, what could be learnt from one another and what steps to take next to effect change.

Josephine McCartney, Chief Executive, of Kent Community Foundation said:

“We were delighted with the response to our first Green Impact Forum. We know that our natural environment offers boundless possibilities for driving social change, including fostering mental well-being, offering spaces for communal activities, providing children and young people with opportunities for engagement and self-development, and creating avenues for employment and involvement for those most vulnerable.

“Through our Environmental Strategy, we are helping to facilitate change through positive steps at a local level. Why? Because a better outcome for the environment is a better outcome for local communities in a multitude of ways; green spaces which provide opportunities for everyone, including the most vulnerable, cleaner air quality, food security and greater local food production, flood defences and prevention.”

The forum participants agreed that:

• communities should not be afraid to take the first steps as enthusiasm and passion often trumps expertise.
• small changes should be embraced.
• volunteering and engaging with environmental initiatives are opportunities for personal development, self-discovery, and finding a sense of purpose.

Josephine McCartney concluded:

“We were thrilled to see that the forum highlighted success stories from groups that exemplified how a single individual can be the catalyst for group efforts, reflecting Kent Community Foundation’s belief in thinking globally, acting locally.”

The Green Impact Forum ended with a resounding call for everyone to take just one positive step and see the optimism in a healthy environment for a healthy society.

To find out more about Kent Community Foundation, please visit: www.kentcf.org.uk.