25 August 2016
Viv Cole has been awarded the Green Flag Award Employee of the Year for 2016
Viv Cole was awarded the Green Flag Award Employee of the Year for her work as Warley Woods Community Trust Manager. The Trust has been running the 100 acre park and public golf course since 2004.
Viv began her work with the Trust in 2006 and has overseen all the work it has done in maintaining and developing the park, woods and golf course. This was the first Community Trust to run an urban public park of this size in the UK.
Just some of her major achievements were:
- Raised 1.4 million from grants and donations over the past nine years.
- Overseen the improvement of the park to Green Flag Award status - the park has been awarded every year since 2010.
- The park was voted 2nd in the UK in the Green Flag People's Choice award.
- Developed the Trust from a small community group into a well-managed, financially secure organisation with a current income of approximately £340,000.
Viv has overseen the development of community events in the park from a single activity to 20 in the last financial year. These cover both educational activities, such as bird and bat walks and history talk, as well as fun activities, such as an annual picnic and an Easter egg roll.
Viv has embraced the digital world and has encouraged the use of social media as a tool for sharing information to the local community.
Paul Todd, Green Flag Award Manager said: "Congratulations to Viv for winning the Green Flag Award Employee of the Year. It is clear how important the park, woods and golf course are to Viv, she doesn't just carry out her role as the Trust Manager, she lives and breathes the work of the Trust.
Viv sets an example to her colleagues and volunteers, and her commitment as Trust Manager is evident in the fact that there is no job too big or small, she has a 'hands-on' approach and is involved in all aspects of the Trust. Well done Viv."
