Opportunities to Volunteer as an Environmental Champion

Solihull's Environmental Champions tackle the environmental issues that affect everyone in the Solihull borough, graffiti, littering, cutting back vegetation, pond clearing, painting play equipment, to name just a few. Anyone can be an Environment Champion, the only requirement is an interest in protecting and improving Solihull's environment, and the quality of life of those living within it. Over the coming months the Environmental Champions have a number of projects planned and would welcome your involvement in any project which interests you. Why not join them at one of the following?:

• 29th July - 10am to 12 noon - Community Clear up of Dorridge Park
• 11th August - Plane Grove - Replacing a shrub bed

• 15th August - 10.30 to 1.30pm - Community Clear up of Babbs Mill Park
• 2^nd September – National Grid replanting Laburnum Avenue shrub beds
• 3^rd September – Berkswell project day with National Grid
• 7th September - 10.30am to 12.30pm - Community Clear Up of Malvern and Brueton Park
• 8^th September – Celebration Evening for Volunteers 4.30pm to 6.30pm
• 11^th September – Hillfields Park – Bulb planting project under the umbrella of the Solihull Festivals
• 16^th September – Phase II of Sandhills pond clearing
• 21^st September – 2pm to 3.30pm clean up of open space at the end of Horton Road
• 22^nd September – National Grid Monkspath Bulb Planting and Clean up
• 25^th September – Babbs Mill Park – Bulb planting project under the umbrella of the Solihull Festivals.
• 7th October - 10.30am to 12.30pm - Community Clear Up of Elmdon Park
• 13^th October – national Grid helping with Golden Jubilee Gardens
• 14^th October – 10.30am to 12.30pm – Pride in Olton Community Clean Up
• 16^th October – 10.30am to 12.30pm – Community Clear Up of Hillfields Park

To discuss the projects please contact Trish Willetts on 0121 704 6534. Alternatively you could e-mail pwilletts@solihull.gov.uk

Small things matter

How many times have you come across small gestures of generosity, the help and support that changed somebody's life? We all experience and know about it. The nice neighbour who holds our spare keys in case we get locked out, the person on the bus or in the queue who starts an encouraging conversation on a bad day, the many nice smiles strangers give us, the neighbour who takes our parcels in when we are at work.

All these little acts of kindness happen all around us, yet we often only hear about the many negative things . Wouldn't we enjoy reading about amazing little gestures that change the world?

At the Solihull Volunteer Managers Forum(VMF) we believe that all these lovely people who brighten other people's days should be celebrated. So for next year's National Volunteer Week( 01 June- 7th June 2010) we are celebrating the SMALL THINGS THAT MATTER.

So please share with us your story of the small gestures of kindness that you have experienced or been involved with.