A partnership scheme involving Groundwork, GreenSpace, The Experience Corps, The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens and the Wildlife Trusts. This scheme provides grants to help people improve open spaces in their neighbourhood, so they can create valuable places for the whole community to enjoy. Living Spaces provides help for people who have good ideas, but don't know how to put their plans into action. A network of trained Living Spaces Enablers are on hand across the country to turn your ideas into reality.

Visit www.living-spaces.org.uk or telephone 0845 600 3190 for more information.

Adopt-a-Beach is a coastal marine initiative organised by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). It encourages local people, groups or whole communities to become involved in caring for their immediate coastline or local beach. MCS aims to achieve a quantifiable reduction in the amount of litter in rivers and seas around the UK, thereby enhancing the quality of our aquatic environments.

If you would like to become involved in Adopt-a-Beach visit www.adoptabeach.org.uk or telephone the Litter Projects Team on 01989 567807

A Barclays Site Savers partnership between Barclays Bank, Groundwork, the Wildlife Trusts and BTCV. This programme helps people to get more involved in making decisions about where they live, and to understand the benefits sustainable development can bring. SiteSavers can help people improve the appearance of their streets, parks and estates and encourage them to adopt healthier lifestyles. Successful projects help communities to get to know their neighbours and can reduce crime itself and the fear of crime.

For more information on SiteSavers, or to get help and support through the scheme, visit the website www.barclays-sitesavers.org.uk or contact Groundwork by telephoning 0121 236 8565

Backed by a number of partners, Thames21 is an environmental organisation working to improve the quality of the River Thames, its tributaries and canals throughout London. It aims to transform London's waterways into a place where people, wildlife and business can prosper by working together with local businesses, community groups, statutory organisations and residents. Thames21 organises many clean-ups of the Thames, London's rivers and canals.

If you would like to be involved as an individual, a business or an organisation visit www.thames21.org.uk or telephone 0207 248 2916

An environmental programme designed to link environmental issues with the Christian faith through spiritual, practical and community-based projects. Eco-Congregation is a partnership between the Arthur Rank Centre and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, as well as other faith groups.

For information or to enter the Eco-Congregation award scheme visit www.ecocongregation.org or visit www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk for England and Wales or www.srtp.org.uk for Scotland.

Telephone 0247 685 3060 for England and Wales or 0131 556 2953 for Scotland.