Bombardier has launched a Sustainable Communities programme in partnership with Business in the Community. Its main aim is to provide practical support on environmental challenges facing local communities. Ten community groups from Greater Belfast will participate in the scheme scheduled to run from September 2009 to June 2010.
Business in the Community’s environmental network, ARENA, will audit the ten community associations on their current performance in areas such as energy, waste and water usage. Following consultation with the community groups, workshops will be organised to target specific environmental issues. ARENA Network will liaise with local councils on providing advice on environmental best practice so that participants can find sustainable solutions in their communities as well as their homes, and save money at the same time.
The local associations will also get the opportunity to tackle a particular area of environmental need within their community. Business in the Community, with the support of Bombardier employees, will organise volunteering challenges to add tangible value to the community’s regeneration plans.
The final phase of Bombardier’s Sustainable Communities programme will provide a review of the work carried out in each community together with a framework to help community groups sustain the improvements they have made.
Speaking at the project launch, Michael Ryan, Vice-President and General Manager, Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with our local communities on the environment. The aim of this programme is to help identify issues of concern and inform on potential options for action. Residents will choose on which areas to focus, empowering them to make changes that will have a positive impact on wider society.”
Keelin Hamill, Project Manager, ARENA Network, said: “This unique programme provides community groups with the resources to increase their awareness of key environmental issues. Other benefits include ready-made toolkits for benchmarking and improving environmental performance, as well as saving money in what are tough economic conditions.”
Billy Thompson, Chair, Dunmurry Community Association, said: “We are excited about taking part in this project. Our community group has very limited funding to allocate to environmental issues. So we are looking forward to participating in both the audits and the workshops and, indeed, using the information we gain to make a visible difference to our community.”
Image Caption
Pictured at the launch of Bombardier’s Sustainable Communities programme are Keelin Hamill, Project Manager, ARENA Network, Susan McCrory, Falls Women's Centre, Michael Ryan, Vice-President and General Manager, Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast and Billy Thompson, Dunmurry Community Association.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2009, were $19.7 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com.
About Business in the Community
A not-for-profit, campaigning organisation, Business in the Community has a core membership of 700 companies, including 75% of the FTSE 100. More than 220 of these companies are members in Northern Ireland. Visit www.bitcni.org.uk for more information. ARENA Network is a Business in the Community campaign.
For information
| Maria Ryan Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast 028 9073 3515 |
Helen Bowman Business in the Community Northern Irelan 028 9046 0606d |