Environment
These are examples of different types of environmental projects currently involving RSVP volunteers:
Trees and Schools : RSVP schools volunteers are helping children to appreciate the value of trees by setting up projects to collect seeds, nurture seedlings and plant young trees.
Improving Public Spaces : Litter picking, clearing overgrown areas and new planting are some of the tasks carried out by RSVP volunteers in the grounds of sheltered houses, hospitals and public parks.
Gardening : By providing a domestic gardening service, RSVP volunteers are allowing many older people to continue to enjoy their own gardens and allotments when they become too frail to maintain them themselves.
Energy Information : In the new 'Energy Challenge' sponsored by ExxonMobil, RSVP volunteers in London and Edinburgh are becoming Energy Champions to advise older people how to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Footpath Surveys : RSVP volunteers are helping some local authorities in Scotland by surveying public footpaths to ensure they are kept clear of obstructions.
Recently, RSVP has started a nationwide project to demonstrate how the over 50's can help respond to the challenges and concerns surrounding climate change. As a first step, factsheets and integrated directories for different topics are being produced to provide reliable information and advice. It is hoped that where this exposes local/regional gaps, new volunteering opportunities will be created.
