Community groups for sustainable living

Wyre Forest Green Alliance

The Wyre Forest Green Alliance (WFGA) is made up of over 35 local groups and organisations that have committed to work together and with Local Authorities to recognise and address and recognise the climate crisis and other environmental issues. They aim to support their local communities in being resilient and to care for our planet. Shortly after they were established in 2021, the WFGA organised the Art4Planet Earth community art project to raise awareness about climate change and the UK Conference of the Parties (COP26) international climate talks. In spring 2022, the WFGA co-ordinated a fortnight of environmentally themed events and activities for the first Wyre Forest SustFest.

Getting involved with your local community can really help you make a difference to the area that you live in. There are plenty of opportunities in Wyre Forest to get involved in voluntary groups with a focus on sustainability issues.

Transition in Wyre Forest

The Transition Network is an international network of voluntary, community-led initiatives. Each transition initiative (a village, town, or city) is working to help their community become more resilient by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, for example by promoting local food production, energy efficiency and renewable energy and more sustainable transport. There are active transition initiatives in Kidderminster and Bewdley and they are always on the lookout for more volunteers.

Transition Bewdley

Transition Bewdley came together in response to the twin pressures of peak oil and climate change. Members of the group are from all backgrounds and professions but are united in working towards reducing Bewdley’s dependence on fossil fuels and the town’s carbon footprint. Transition Bewdley focus on energy, for example, looking at the potential for community renewable energy projects and promoting energy conservation, including in listed buildings and food/land. To find out more email Transition Bewdley or visit their Facebook page.

Transition Kidderminster

Transition Kidderminster was launched in 2013 and has a mission statement - to make Kidderminster a happier, better-fed, better-exercised, better place to live! The steering group meets monthly, and a separate food group has been set up to set up projects such as community orchards/allotments and garden share schemes. To find out more, visit the Transition Kidderminster website  or email Transition Kidderminster them.

Repair Café Wyre Forest

Regular Repair Café events are now taking place in Wyre Forest. A repair café is a friendly, relaxing and social meeting space where people can take their broken, damaged or torn household items for repair advice, repair or sharpening free of charge. The types of items include electrical appliances, electronic gadgets, furniture, toys, ceramics, jewellery, garments and fabrics, clocks, garden equipment, tools and much more. The sessions take place from10am until 2pm at Kidderminster Youth House on the first Saturday of each month and St George’s Hall in Bewdley, on the third Saturday of each month. Run entirely by volunteers, anyone can pop in even just for a cuppa and slice of cake. Repairs are free, but donations are encouraged to ensure the Repair Café can keep running in future. Organisers are also on the lookout for more volunteer repairers or as part of the team that meet and greet visitors. Find out more via the Transition Group contacts for Bewdley and Kidderminster.

Wyre Forest Community Land Trust

The Community Land Trust’s mission is to provide a mix of affordable and attainable housing for all, regardless of income, tailored to community needs and with a focus on eco homes and energy efficiency. Wyre Forest Community Land Trust is also committed to acquiring local assets and land important to the community for community benefit.

The community land trust are always looking for new volunteers, please submit a form via their get in touch page.

Other voluntary opportunities

There are lots of other environmentally focussed voluntary opportunities in Wyre Forest. These include:

• Conservation volunteering with our Rangers service – we’re always on the lookout for volunteer rangers, nature reserve checkers and people to help with practical conservation tasks.
• Worcestershire Wildlife Trust- Wyre Forest local group- arrange indoor and outdoor events and activities.
• Sustrans- opportunities may include checking local cycle paths or leading group bike rides.