Worcestershire County Council's commercial team has joined the DICM (West Mercia) social value marketplace, in doing so helping suppliers and partners better align with their Commercial Social Value Charter.
In joining, the Council has positioned FOUR specific community impact projects for suppliers to consider supporting as part of their social value propositions within bids for council contracts.
Meet Worcester Community Garden
As one of the Four charity beneficiaries of the Council's new social value marketplace approach within procurement, Worcester Community Garden is being digitally connected into those businesses bidding for contracts, and also businesses already supplying the council.
A registered charity running a half acre site on the edge of Pitchcroft, Worcester racecourse, Worcester Community Garden is part of Transition Worcester, which is a strategic commitment to developing resilience and a more sustainable way of living within the community in the face of climate change and fossil fuel depletion.
The charity is 100% volunteer operated, as a community organisation every penny of income received is used to maintain and develop this unique and very special green space at Worcester Community Garden.
The charity has TWO main operational areas:
Small Space Gardens
Part of the community garden site has been allocated to what it calls ‘small garden spaces’.
The idea is that these areas of the community garden should provide ideas and inspiration for visitors, and hopefully encourage them to try new things in their own garden, allotment or balcony.
Flooding
Ahead of every winter they need to get the garden ready for the likely flooding to come.
This involves securing any items that might be washed away, moving any items that are not being used to a higher location and ensuring all our floating infrastructure is ready for what is to come.
Support for the charity...
Social value comes in many forms, from Monetary donations to Equipment donations, and even Volunteering.
Businesses can choose, and develop this with Worcester Community Gardens directly - who've developed a range of mechanisms to help them engage with donors and convert any donations and support into resources that drive the charity forwards.
Council suppliers and those bidding for future contracts, can utilise the DICM (West Mercia) to declare their social value support for Worcester Community Garden.
To make contact and discuss the specifics of social value support, businesses can quote DICM (West Midlands) within an email to admin@worcestercommunitygarden.org.uk