Friends of Sustainable Harborough Community
These local groups share our values and operate in collaboration with our vision.

Eco Church - Harborough
Eco Church is part of A Rocha, Portuguese for 'rock' where it began. It provides an online survey and supporting resources designed to equip our churches to express our care for God’s world in our worship and teaching; in how we look after our buildings and land; in how we engage with our local community, so joining SHC as a Friend is a natural progression and in global campaigns, and in the personal lifestyles of our congregation.
The actions we take will count towards a prestigious Eco Church Award at Bronze, Silver or Gold level. Complete our Eco Survey to gauge where our churches currently are in relation to the three different levels.
Our vision is for churches of all denominations to care for creation as an integral part of loving their neighbours and following God faithfully.

Elderberries: Community Garden
Elderberries is a community garden initiative operating within the grounds of a Care Home in Market Harborough. We grow a wide variety of produce, all organically, a proportion of which is given to the residents whilst the rest is used by the team of volunteers.
Our aims are to create a beautiful garden for the residents to enjoy; understand more about the environment we inhabit; create a safe place of well being for our volunteers; teach new skills and encourage a community spirit where everyone is valued.
In the winter months we hold workshops such as willow weaving, grafting apples, making chutneys. In addition we arrange visits to other gardens of interest. The group meets weekly, weather permitting, every Thursday from 2 to 4.30pm.
For further information please contact David Palmer on 07505 968767.





Harborough Woodland Community Volunteers
Responsibly increasing regional tree and hedge cover where possible without cost to the landowner. We are ambitious, keen to build synergy between the isolated talents and empower the unlimited community capacity. We are passionate about people, wildlife and their future. Our priorities are befriending landowners, community groups, government agencies and charities. Finding and helping to implement opportunities in school, large area natural flood management and agroforestry schemes. We're promoting all best practice. We are planning support for green social prescribing and training to create employment.

Market Harborough Fairtrade Town
We encourage and support individuals, shops, businesses, schools and churches to buy, sell and use Fair Trade products. Fair trade works to raise the voices of producers and prioritise what they need to respond to the environmental crises unfolding in already vulnerable communities.

Market Harborough Master Composters
Master Composters are here to help any resident of Market Harborough who wants to start composting at home, or to people who are already home composting and may be having difficulties or need encouragement. We are part of the Leicestershire Master Composters Scheme.

Parish of the Transfiguration
There are 2 churches in the parish both of which are working towards the Arocha Eco Church Award Scheme. The award encourages churches and church communities to review their behaviour and impact on God's World and supports behaviour change to reduce the church and it's members impact on the environment. The award themes include Worship and Teaching, the church buildings, the management of church land, global and community engagement and lifestyle. During 2021 boyh St Hugh and St Nicholas Churches have received their Bronze award, and are driving towards gaining the Silver Award in 2022. To that end we are focussing on some lifestyle changes, and hope to arrange events during the year: At St Hugh Church we are planning a rewilding of the Church Garden and car park, and also new bycicls ehds and and a garden seating area. See the 12 Months of Action to join in our future events.

Torch Trust
We are a Christian charity serving blind and partially sighted people across the UK and around the world. Based in Market Harborough and keen to play our part in our local community as we work together to be more sustainable. We are in process of putting together an environmental sustainability strategy to look at the various actions we can continue to make to improve our performance in the area.

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire
VASL is a Charity based in Market Harborough. We have several projects including Community Champions, Support for Carers, Young Carers, Mental Health and Transport. We rely on local Volunteers along with our staff to help those living in the local area and Leicestershire. VASL has been looking at how to be a sustainable organisation and will continue to do all we can to reduce our carbon footprint and wisely use our limited resources.