Phoenix Futures Case Study video transcript

[Jon Hall speaking]

So, Phoenix Futures is an organisation who work with people in recovery from drug and alcohol. We have residential programs, we have community-based programs, and we have programs in prisons as well.

We're surrounded by lots of beautiful land. We have meadows, we have ancient woodlands. Behind me, you'll see Maid Marion, who's a 400 year old oak tree, at least 400 year old oak tree. We base a lot of our conservation work around there. We also have a horticultural area where we're looking to grow fruit and veg, and the idea is that we grow fruit and veg, we get that into the kitchen and we teach people and help people to cook and produce healthy, nutritious food.

From a conservation perspective, we, we look after this land here and we're looking to create conservation areas, nature habitats. We've got lots of variety, but also we're engaged in conservation work, which is of global importance.

[Mark Bolton begins speaking]

We've done a lot of tree planting. We're involved with other organisations to support projects such as, we're growing giant sequoias for the Great Reserve in Wales. We do a lot of habitat building, so we create habitats in the natural environment for creatures such as badgers and hedgehogs and various others. We've got, we look after, grass snakes. We do lots of different things as a collective to support our natural environments in this area.

With the guys and girls that attend our projects, they get a better understanding of their environment and what's around them, and they learn lots of new skills and the importance of protecting nature in itself. So I do think we can make a difference by education, but subtle education. So, you know, we don't press it on people, it just comes naturally.

[Jon Hall begins speaking]

It's very important for organisations such as Phoenix Futures to engage in conservation programs. Primarily and most importantly for us, it's about the therapeutic benefits to our people and that's something we've understood now for over 25 years.

But organisationally, we don't want to be seen to be just greenwashing. The work we do is genuine, it has genuine impact, and that relates to the way we work with our people. We don't just get people outside doing something for the sake of doing something. We get people out and we explain why we're doing it, what the purpose is, and the benefits it actually has.

[Mark Bolton begins speaking]

Businesses is the biggest thing that can contribute to environmental decline. And I think if businesses understand their impact upon local environments, then they can turn things around and do things slightly different. So it is important that they educate themselves and they understand the natural environments better.

Phoenix Futures Case Study video

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