Timberland's Earthkeeper Grant 2011 - Winners announcement

Congratulation and celebrations to the 6 winners of the Timberland Earthkeepers Grant this year.

This year we received 64 applications. YES … 64 applications in 3 weeks! An incredible turnout, and almost double that of last year. It certainly kept us busy our end. In fact, that number of applications meant the judging process had to be turned on its head – culminating with a “strictly come dancing” scoring system introduced at the meeting.

The 7 judges did a sterling job. Each being allocated 10 applications and putting forward their favourite three. All judges then decided unanimously (strictly style) on the final 6 applicants listed below:

Brightwell Allotment Project: A joint enterprise between Brightwell Children’s Home and Merton Youth Justice Service. The fund will help plant fruit trees and buy compost, plant protection & tools.
Transforming the River Wandle: The Wandle Trust has been organising monthly river clean-up events for the River Wandle for nearly ten years. The fund will enable The Wandle Trust to buy wildflower seeds, 10 new PVC waders and to repair 40 of their older waders.
Together we can Grow, Jason Lee House: Is a 24 hour homeless hostel which used to be completely run by volunteers and still relies on many of them. The fund will help buy a petrol strimmer, a greenhouse, hedges, tables & chairs, bulbs and plants for a community garden.
Homeless Hostels Food Alliance (Liverpool): The Homeless Hostels Food Alliance comprises a group of 12 other hostels to address the food inadequacies in Liverpool. The Fund will cover relocation costs, a polytunnel, tree saplings (11 types), truck hire and a new irrigation system.
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden: The Dalston Eastern Curve Garden is a community garden/growing space located on an ex railway station line in Hackney. The Fund will help pay for a greenhouse, glazing, bricks and skilled trade.
City Farmers: City Farmers is an organisation that facilitates vegetable growers. The fund will offer support for existing community gardens, seedling give-away days & mapping.

For those eagle-eyed readers, you’ll have noticed there are 6 winners and not 5. Why’s this? When the voting took place, there was a tie for 5^th and 6^thplace. When totting up the requested sums, we realised we could accommodate a 6^th project because many applications were for below the £2,000 maximum.

And what for the non-winners? Firstly a HUGE THANK YOU for taking the time to apply. We try to make it as easy as possible, so if you have any feedback for us here at Project Dirt, then do get in touch. Likewise, if you’re keen for Timberland employees to volunteer on your project – please use our VOLUNTEERING PAGE and insert (EK GRANT APPL) after your name, so they can make the link and hopefully get some help down to you.

So – there you have it. Timberland’s third year of the EK grant on Project Dirt in a nutshell. We hope you found it an easy process to follow. We’re working to get similar grant schemes on Project Dirt soon, so keep your eyes peeled and your applications safe if you didn't get funding this time round.

All the best

Mark, Nick and Lucy