MIDDLESBROUGH ENVIRONMENT CITY TRUST LIMITED

Well, we're back for 2025! We're operating mostly at capacity: Our Eco Shop, Affordable Warmth and Communities Growing Together teams are in, with others on annual leave. We'll be back at full capacity on Monday 6th January, but if you have any enquiries for those teams, send 'em in and give us a call, cause we're back for 2025!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year, folks! May 2025 bring you health, wealth and happiness: There's a lot of changes this year for Middlesbrough Environment City incoming, so keep a close eye on this feed for more. Until we officially re-open tomorrow, though: Enjoy the New Year and make 2025 your year!

Good morning and welcome to Christmas week, folks! After today, our office will be closed until the New Year, returning on January 2nd. As such all of our services, such as Affordable Warmth and Active Travel, will also be closed during this time. Our teams are wrapping it all up today, so if you have any burning enquiries, be sure to ask them as soon as you can today!

Gary also made an appearance alongside some fantastic riders over at Village Primary School in Thornaby, alongside Rachael and Connor teaching Bikeability to the amazing pupils there. Gary was jubilant at being able to travel all over today, and was more than happy to accompany our Active Travel team around the area as they prepare for the festive end-of-term themselves.

Gary has popped up at Breckon Hill Primary School where he accompanied the pupils with pedestrian training, and sat down to give them a thorough talk on the importance of safely crossing roads, looking both ways and listening before you cross in a safe location such as at a zebra crossing. When asked how he feels about teaching the next generation about the importance of safely walking and navigating roads and streets, Gary replied with "indubitably"....which is kinda posh for Gary, but we take it to mean that he finds the importance of pedestrian training impossible to doubt. Thanks, Gary, and thanks to Becky and the Active Travel team for teaching the amazing children at Breckon Hill and accompanying them for pedestrian training!

Gary's a bit busy today: Having earned his stripes on Bikeability, Gary is now working with Climate Action Middlesbrough to write carbon reports and environmental action plans, as well as completing audits for organisations who are looking for support on their journey towards Net Zero. It's not the most glamorous job in the office, but Gary takes his job as Sustainability Gonk extraordinarily seriously, and that means doing the paperwork whenever he can. When asked about how he feels about trading in his bicycle for a pen, Gary replied with a resounding ".....", but tilted his head in such a way that indicated that such things don't bother him, given the importance of his role, and that he hopes more organisations will reach out to CAM by emailing Jodie.Sawbridge@menvcity.org.uk to help organise their journey to Net Zero. Please, do it for Gary, or else he might take over my job as social media admin next. #companyupdate #garythegonk #gonk #christmas #boro #teesside #teesvalley #middlesbrough #xmas #christmasmood

Gary was out at St Therese of Lisieux Catholic Primary again today, assisting with teaching Bikeability to some amazing pupils who earned their certificates with flying colours, helping them to cycle safely and rule the roads with confidence and care! Asked about his role stepping in as Active Travel Trainer, Gary replied with ".......", but gestured vaguely with a thumbs up. While his passion is in promoting sustainability we won't rule out Gary becoming Active Travel Gonk sometime in the near future if it calls for it! #companyupdate #garythegonk #gonk #christmas #boro #teesside #teesvalley #middlesbrough

Some fantastic photos from today's cooking session with our usual guests of local volunteers who work alongside us on Communities Growing Together! We cooked up a Butternut Squash soup for them today, alongside some Mincemeat Biscuits and some mulled apple punch, and some homemade Christmas chocolate truffles to boot! The wonderful group also gave Les and Kim some amazing gifts, too, to show their appreciation for the cooking session. Thank you to all those who showed up, and here's to many more sessions to come! #cooking #cookingworkshop #volunteer #volunteering #appreciation #boro #teesside #cleveland #teesvalley

Fresh off earning his Level 2 Bikeability Badge, Gary joined our Active Travel team today as they delivered bikeability lessons in Ingleby Barwick to St Therese of Lisieux Catholic Primary! When asked how he felt about the training, and how well he thought the fantastic pupils got on with learning how to safely use their bicycle and get started with this healthy mode of transport, Gary responded with "...". Gary is a gonk of few words, but limitless enthusiasm. #companyupdate #garythegonk #gonk #christmas #boro #teesside #teesvalley #middlesbrough #bikeability

Gary, the Sustainability Gonk, sees all. He knows all. He knows if you haven't been sustainable in your food and gift choices, and he judges... ..We think because we can't see his facial expressions beneath the hat and beard. He might be grinning for all we know.