Friends of Evington’s charity was formed in 2012 with environmental and community objectives as stated in their constitution. The charity took on the management of the Evington Echo, a regular newsletter/magazine that informed many thousands of local people about local events, opinions, news, campaigns, people and clubs and societies. Today (2023), the Evington Echo magazine is circulated 6 times a year to 6,000 homes in the Evington area. In 2012, the charity also formed and took on the management of Evington in Bloom. Evington in Bloom is a project or campaign that has community, environmental and gardening aims and works in partnership with East Midlands in Bloom and the LEV (Leicester Environmental Volunteers Department) of Leicester City Council. East Midlands in Bloom is part of the Royal Horticultural Society and evaluates Bloom groups in their area as well as It’s Your Neighbourhood (IYN) Groups. The City Council LEV department work with these groups to offer site agreements and training. The IYN groups in Evington contribute to the overall assessment of Evington in Bloom. In September 2022 we learned that Evington in Bloom had achieved a Gold standard award as an urban area group in Leicester and that 3 of the Evington IYN groups had achieved Level 5, Outstanding and 3 others had achieved Level 4 Thriving. Friends of Evington trustees are also grateful for the support it receives through their members’ projects, local businesses and individual members.
The vision of Friends of Evington is about enhancing and preserving the environment and helping local people improve their health and wellbeing by contributing, making new friends and learning new skills.
In the longer term, Friends of Evington are wanting to manage a Community Eco Centre in Evington Park House and associated land and to extend its local work to many more diverse age groups and projects. Whether this is viable will depend on a satisfactory survey of the house by Leicester City Council, a good consultation and a good business plan. Do follow our posts for updates.
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