Groundwork in North Wales held a successful Open Day on Tuesday 2nd September 2008. The event was sponsored by Airbus UK with Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, Deputy First Minister, Welsh Assembly Government and Minister for Economic Development and Transport officially opening Groundwork’s new Celtic Roundhouse. The Roundhouse will provide a unique facility in North East Wales for delivery of Groundwork’s heritage and environmental education programmes.
The event was a wonderful opportunity for Groundwork to showcase the work it delivers, in partnership with others, in the areas of Environmental Improvement, Education, Health and Employment across North Wales. At the event, stakeholders from the public, private and voluntary sectors experienced first hand some of Groundwork’s diverse activities, including becoming an Iron Age Celt, riding on specially adapted bikes, learning about herb gardening and planting-up a community garden.
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said, "I'm delighted to declare the Roundhouse open - and to congratulate Groundwork North Wales not only for this new educational asset for many schools across North Wales but also for the broad range of excellent work achieved by the Trust. From improving the employability of many economically inactive clients to imaginative ways of enhancing local health, education and the environment, Groundwork is a social enterprise which is improving both places and people’s lives."
Brian Fleet MBE, Senior Vice President, Head of Wing and Pylon Centre of Excellence at Airbus UK, gave the business perspective at the event. Airbus has been actively involved with Groundwork in Wrexham and Flintshire since 2001 and kindly agreed to sponsor the event.
"At Airbus in the UK we are firm believers in the need to invest in people and training, and to support the development of sustainable communities. We are always keen to support projects that promote education, particularly those which raise environmental awareness. We are therefore delighted to be able to support not only this event, but also the Groundwork enterprise as a whole. We are also very pleased that we’ve been able to be part of the Groundwork partnership since 2001, and have witnessed the tremendous work the teams are doing in the locality. Their efforts in teaching children about reducing energy consumption and the benefits of recycling are vitally important, for example, and I’m personally very proud of the fact that that we at Airbus are able to demonstrate our tangible support for this fantastic work."
Isobel Garner, Chief Executive, Wrexham County Borough Council and Colin Everett, Chief Executive, Flintshire Borough Council gave the local authority perspectives. Isobel Garner said, "Wrexham’s partnership with Groundwork helps improve the quality of people’s lives, their prospects and potential and the environment where they live, work and play. Our commitment to continuing this success will mean that for every £1 invested into Groundwork by Wrexham County Borough Council this year, £34 worth of tangible benefits will be delivered to the people and communities of the Borough."
Colin Everett added, "Flintshire County Council is pleased to continue to support Groundwork as a partner and is impressed with the facilities the Celtic Roundhouse has to offer the community. This new centre will offer a wide variety of educational and environmental programmes which will bring real benefits for visitors."
Vanessa Griffiths, Executive Director, Groundwork in North Wales summed up the event, "This Open Day has given us the opportunity to thank our partners for their support, and to demonstrate the impact which our distinctive, holistic approach to regeneration delivers. Groundwork intends to continue to work on Environmental Improvements and to deliver high quality projects in Wrexham and Flintshire, whilst also developing our innovative work in Health, Education and Employability and becoming more active across North West Wales."
