Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) received the Environmental Award from CEMVO Scotland for their Communities for Conservation Project as part of the Ethnic Minority Impact Awards at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel last week.
Welcoming the award, Foysol Choudhury MBE, Chair of Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equalities Council congratulated Communities for Conservation project c-oordinator Jean-Matthieu Gaunand and his team for their hard work and dedication.
Mr Choudhury said: “Communities for Conservation has successfully inspired environmental behaviour changes amongst diverse communities. We are honoured to have received this well-deserved award. Our hard-working staff has been dedicated to the cause but lots of work still needs to be done in the communities on this issue. I would like to thank our funders, the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund and all the partners.”
Founded in 1971, ELREC has worked with diverse communities in Edinburgh & the Lothians over four decades promoting equality and tackling discrimination. Their focus on climate change started in 2014 with the launch of the Communities for Conservation project. Funded by the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund, the project aimed at inspiring minority communities to reduce their carbon footprint through climate change initiatives.
To date, the project has engaged with over 3000 people from BME communities by providing home energy visits, cycling activities, and food growing workshops. Over the last three years the project has helped its users save over £150,000 through helping them qualify for grants to fund energy saving home improvements.
The ELREC team has also empowered over 100 volunteers some of whom have pursued a career in the environment. They have delivered over 70 workshops related to climate change, energy efficiency, upcycling, waste reduction, and healthy eating. This Environmental Award is a great achievement for the organization.
David Gunn, Climate Challenge Fund Manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful presented ELREC with the Environmental Award and commented: “I was delighted to present ELREC with the Environmental Award, and congratulate them for all they have achieved through their Climate Challenge Fund Project, Communities for Conservation.
“Keep Scotland Beautiful has been pleased to sponsor the CEMVO Scotland Environmental Impact Award for the last three years, and we value the opportunity to recognise the efforts being made by Ethnic Minority communities, such as ELREC, to make their local areas clean, green and more sustainable.
“The Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund is empowering Ethnic Minority communities to take local action on climate change. We are proud to manage the Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government and look forward to supporting many more Ethnic Minority Communities to take climate action in the future”.
Ms Zarina Ahmad, Climate Change and environment officer, said: “The Impact Awards are given to those who have made huge differences to their community. ELREC’s CCF project not only has achieved this but has become an integral part of ELREC’s work. Jean-Matthieu has shown great leadership in taking this project forward, providing support and advice to other CCF projects and opening to collaborative work. Communities for Conservation is an exemplar project and Jean-Matthieu a role model we should all be proud of, truly deserving the CEMVO Environment Impact Award”.
For further enquiries please contact ELREC at 0131 556 0441 or email Jean-Matthieu Gaunand JGaunand@elrec.org.uk or follow updates on our Twitter @ELRECUK and Facebook group at www.facebook.com/ELRECUK
ELREC CHARITY DINNER
The 2nd ELREC Equality Champions Gala Dinner, to celebrate and honour those who have contributed to developing equality in Edinburgh and in the Lothians, will be held at the Heriot Watt University on the 20th November 2016. At a time when Equality is a major issue all over the world, this is a great opportunity to celebrate the great work we at ELREC are doing to make Edinburgh and Lothians a primary area for equality and rights.
If you are interested in attending our dinner, please contact Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) at admin@elrec.org.uk or call 0131 556 0441
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