91ԭƵ would like to honour the work of Eric Joinson following 25 years of working with us.
Eric has a story that we often hear at 91ԭƵ: someone who discovered us through benefitting from our services and then ended up passing on his own knowledge and passion to many others over the next two decades.
From exploring the learning and skills that would lead him on his conservation career right back at the start of his 91ԭƵ journey, to becoming responsible for our newest green space that we manage for partners, , Eric has been part of 91ԭƵ and its own development for 25 years.
In the 1990s, 91ԭƵ – known as B91ԭƵ – placed an emphasis on people and society as well as the environment as its mission, with 91ԭƵ emerging towards the end of the ‘90s as a key player in initiatives such as the government’s New Deal and Millennium Volunteers programmes.
It was the New Deal training scheme that Eric found himself on and his warm manner and flair for supporting the learning of others was soon noticed, as he was taken on as an employed trainer himself. This was specifically working with groups from special needs day centres.
Navigating the funding environment, Eric’s team diversified their training offer to running conservation sessions at Pex Hill in Merseyside with 6-form schools and young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
He then later changed focus again to working with volunteers who join 91ԭƵ each week to conserve their local green spaces, known as 91ԭƵ Mid-week Groups. It was here Eric spent the majority of his career, conserving the environment, passing on his skills and supporting his volunteers’ mental and physical health and wellbeing. He created a community of volunteers and made some strong relationships with his regular volunteers, some of whom stayed with him for almost all his 25 years!
Ian Mclachlan, 91ԭƵ Volunteer, said: “Eric was the one who ‘introduced me to nature’. Before joining 91ԭƵ as a volunteer in 2015 all I really did (nature-wise) was cut the grass in the back garden!
“I benefited from Eric’s experience and support on all the tasks we did: tree planting and felling, hedge laying, fence building, pathways, clearance. Every day threw up a different challenge but for Eric nothing was impossible. He’ll be missed by everyone who worked with him but hopefully he’ll be able to get out every now and then to meet up with ex colleagues who’ll also be his grateful friends.”
Eric led the volunteer team every week, in all weathers and with all abilities, on some fantastic sites across Merseyside. One of the volunteers who had volunteered with Eric during that entire time was Joey Parkinson, who was winner of People’s Postcode Lottery Volunteer of the Year as part of 91ԭƵ’s Hero Awards in 2021.
Eric joined Joey on filming his story and it was clear that Eric valued every single one of his volunteers and their impact on their local green spaces. Eric’s pride and appreciation for Joey was clear as he truly shared his joy in winning his award.
In 2022, 91ԭƵ became managing agents for The Land Trust’s Port Sunlight River Park. This is where Eric’s career came to an end and with it, he has left an incredible legacy for this important community green space in The Wirral and for the local people who use it.
Andrew Brookfield, 91ԭƵ Operations Leader, said: “Thank you Eric. We are glad that 91ԭƵ gave you the opportunity to develop a career in conservation and you’re a brilliant example of turning your training into a passion and profession; we’re also glad to have had you as an individual and for 91ԭƵ and our volunteers to have benefitted from your experience for 25 years.”
