More about Groundwork

Groundwork Solent was established in 1998 as Groundwork Gosport. In 2003 we became Groundwork Solent, reflecting the extension of our charitable boundary to cover the whole of south Hampshire, including Gosport, Southampton and Portsmouth.

Groundwork works alongside communities, public bodies, private companies and other voluntary sector organisations to deliver projects and programmes that benefit

People – creating opportunities for people to learn new skills and become more active citizens
Places – delivering environmental improvements that create cleaner, safer, greener neighbourhoods
Prosperity – helping businesses and individuals fulfil their potential

Groundwork’s vision is of a society made up of sustainable communities which are vibrant, healthy and safe, which respect the local and global environment and where individuals and enterprise prosper. Groundwork’s purpose is to build sustainable communities in areas of need through joint environmental action

Groundwork rarely works alone and aims to be part of a strong and vibrant voluntary sector committed to helping public and private sector organisations to deliver better services. Acting as a go-between, Groundwork is well placed to support communities in taking ownership and responsibility for their neighbourhoods. Our role as facilitator and enabler can help strengthen the role of local voluntary and community groups.

History of Groundwork

Groundwork's origins can be traced back to the late 1970s. The Countryside Commission was looking at ways to improve the physical environment of the urban fringe on the edge of towns and cities which tended to be overlooked and often became run-down and derelict.

In 1978 the Commission put forward proposals to the Government for a major experiment to look at new ways of improving and managing these urban fringe areas under the banner UFEX80.

Following the 1979 general election UFEX80 was renamed 'Operation Groundwork' and the incoming environment minister Michael Heseltine presided over the launch of the first Groundwork Trust in St Helens and Knowsley in December 1981.

The Trust's role was to bring together a partnership of public, private and voluntary sector interests in a co-ordinated effort to upgrade the environment, to realise the full potential of under-used land, to convert waste ground to productive use and to improve access to the countryside.

It soon became obvious that the approach worked. By July 1983 five more Groundwork Trusts had been established in the North West. That same year it was announced that Groundwork would go national and Groundwork Hertfordshire was closely followed by Trusts in East Durham, Leeds and Merthyr Tydfil.

With the scale and scope of Groundwork projects increasing all the time, the Countryside Commission established the Groundwork Foundation (now Groundwork UK) to co-ordinate expansion and to support the network by building national partnerships and raising new resources.

In 1990, at the request of the Government, Groundwork expanded its work to include inner cities and town centres and began concentrating on supporting people and businesses in deprived neighbourhoods.

At part of Groundwork’s continued expansion, Groundwork Solent was established in Gosport in 1998. Our knowledge, experience and success in bringing together partners to deliver improvements in the borough provide the foundations to extend this support to communities across the Solent sub region. Urban south Hampshire is facing a period of dramatic change, and it is Groundwork’s aim to ensure that we retain the best of our unique history, heritage, environment and the strength of our local communities whilst improving those areas that still need investment to bring about a better quality of life.

Groundwork will meet this aim by forming partnerships in Gosport, Southampton, Portsmouth, Havant and further a field. New housing, better transport, health care and further investment in education and employment is all needed but it increases the importance of delivering this development in a way that protects our environment for future generations. In particular, Groundwork will continue to promote good design and secure investment in our open spaces making them safe, attractive and vital to our sense of well being and quality of life.

Groundwork UK

Groundwork UK exists to support the charitable objectives of the Federation of Groundwork Trusts and to lead promotion and development of the Federation.

A registered charity and a company limited by guarantee, Groundwork UK is governed by the Groundwork Federation Board, the majority of whose members are elected by the Trusts.

From offices in central Birmingham, Groundwork UK provides national leadership and strategic development and support to all Trusts and regions. Core functions include income generation, programme development and management, partnership development and research, as well as support services such as finance, human resources, ICT, policy and communications.

Groundwork UK also has regional teams in England that work from offices located within their region. They provide regional leadership and direction and support the work of Trusts in their region.

Groundwork in the South East

Groundwork South East

In the South East, Groundwork works with partners to improve the quality of the local environment, the lives of local people and the profitability of local business. This means making better use of regional resources such as land, energy and water.

The outcomes from this work are not just better places to live and work, though this is fundamentally important, but also to contribute to community and economic development of a local area. For example, there is a strong emphasis on developing the skills of the whole community, particularly those out of work, those in local employment and business, and children and young people, with whom the region’s future prosperity lies.

Groundwork Kent and Medway

Groundwork has been working in North Kent since 1990 and extended its area of operation to the whole of Kent in April 2007 when the two existing trusts covering the Kent Thames-side and Medway Swale areas merged to form Groundwork Kent and Medway. Whilst the Trust will continue to focus on the Thames Gateway, an increasing the amount of its work will be throughout the county

Groundwork Thames Valley

Groundwork Thames Valley has 20 years experience of community engagement, partnership building and project management. Groundwork Thames Valley works to improve the natural and built environment, create stronger neighbourhoods, provide opportunities for learning new skills, realise young people's potential, and engage the local business community.