Groundwork in Sandwell delivers its activities through six thematic programmes:

Local Agenda 21

At the heart of Groundwork's vision are people. The work of the Agenda 21 team in Sandwell will ensure that communities are consulted, empowered and involved in all work carried out by the trust.

Many environments concerns greatly influence the health of the community. An unclean, unsafe environment will lead to a lack of pride, a feeling of insecurity and lack of confidence to use the environment. A well designed environment that has engaged the community will increase pride, increase the security and safety of the area and will lead the communtiy to use their enviornment with clear health benefits.

Urban Green Space

We have carried out major physical improvements in Sandwell working in partnership with the local community, public and private agencies such as Sandwell Health Authority and Sandwell MBC. Projects in Sandwell include the Sandwell Hospital Garden, The Cracker Open Space, The Ridgeacre canal project which improves links to the canal through walkways, cycle paths. Future Focus in Sandwell will include safe routes to schools, environmental arts programmes, community safety programmes, enhancements of strategic corridors and a greater use of the Black Country Urban Forest.

Employment Training and Enterprise

Groundwork Black Country, in partnership with Dudley M.B.C, Sandwell M.B.C and Future Skills are a lead provider for the Environment Task Force Option of New Deal, within the Sandwell area, with further success in gaining SRB5 funds to deliver the Groundwork Prosper programme. This enables the trust to offer training and employment opportunities to unemployed people.

The majority of work undertaken by these trainees takes the form of environmental improvements in the Black Country. In most cases the trainees will work in thier own community. The benefits of this local focus include a greater feeling of pride, a cleaner safer environment, greater bonding between different age groups and an increase in the use of the local environment by the community. Also Groundwork, in conjunction with West Midlands Police and Business Link are developing the formation of a Business Group called Albion Business Forum. Set-up in the Greets Green area, the ABF companies of approximately 40 businesses have got together to look at issues such as Security, Crime and Vandalism.

Working with Young People

Working with the youth of Sandwell is of great importance to the future of the borough. If healthy living can be instigated at a young age the future good health of Sandwell is more likely to be secure. Specific areas of work with young people include:

• School programmes focusing on energy, waste and school grounds,
• linking schools to the wider community
• youth inclusion programmes
• personal development programmes.

Working with business

A key factor in improving the health of Sandwell is to work closely with the business sector to improve working practises around pollution, health and safety, waste reduction, improved human resource management. Groundwork aims to improve all these factors through specific focus on:

• Employability and life skills training.
• Green enterprise development.
• Company placements.

Health

In addition to the five focus areas that impact on health Groundwork in Sandwell has recognised the need to create a specific health focus. Current priorities include:

• partnership development and awareness raising
• contributions to health improvement schemes
• delivery of practical projects that promote a healthy lifestyle.