Supporting Community Wellbeing Through Nature: Our Partnership with Rose Hill Junior Youth Club

At SMS Environmental, we’re proud to be more than just a service provider. Through our commitment to social value, we actively look for opportunities to give back to the communities where we work. That’s why we’re delighted to have supported Rose Hill Junior Youth Club (RHJYC) in Oxford as part of our ongoing partnership with Green Square Accord and their Community Impact Fund. 

RHJYC is a registered charity that has been a lifeline to families in Rose Hill and Littlemore for over 14 years. The club provides free after-school sessions for over 120 children, including healthy meals, cooking classes, creative projects, community events, trips, and 1:1 mentoring.

Their work is vital, especially in the face of growing challenges like food and fuel poverty, and deteriorating mental and physical health.

The grant awarded by GSA will support RHJYC’s Nature Nurture Nourishment project, which started during the pandemic with the creation of a community allotment. This green space quickly became a safe, supportive environment for children and families to reconnect with nature. Since then, it has grown into a long-term natural wellbeing programme, helping residents improve both their physical and mental health.

Thanks to the project’s success, RHJYC has appointed a Wellbeing in Nature Co-ordinator to increase access and outreach to disadvantaged families. This initiative is already showing results: 76% of participating young people have reported improved mood and better coping skills.

As part of our broader contribution, SMS Environmental was proud to provide a £8,597 social value rebate to GSA earlier this year. On Sunday 22 June, a dedicated team from SMS also volunteered at Rose Hill Community Centre, getting hands-on at the allotment. Together, we helped build new planting beds, weed and tidy, and sow fresh seeds—bringing the space to life for the summer months ahead.

David Clift, our HR Manager, shared:
"We’re proud to support RHJYC through our social value contributions and volunteering efforts. Their Nature Nurture Nourishment project is making a real difference in the community, promoting wellbeing and resilience among young people and families. We’re thrilled to see our partnership with GSA create such a positive impact!"

 

Natalie Peters, Compliance Manager at GSA, added:
"SMS Environmental Ltd are a valued, long-standing partner of GSA. Whilst providing an excellent service contractually, they have and continue to be committed to our social value programme. This benefits customers in our community in a variety of ways and should be celebrated and recognised."

We believe that meaningful partnerships like this one can create lasting change. Through continued collaboration with organisations like GSA and inspirational community groups like RHJYC, we’re committed to delivering positive impact well beyond our core services.