Jeremy Iles has worked in the environmental campaigning sector since 1993 & has a wealth of experience of developing collaborative projects across the UK.
What we offer – experience, flexibility, empathy, lateral thinking, co-development, networking, peer support, collaboration, advocacy, handholding, empowerment, enthusiasm, value for money.
We believe in – being honest, transparent, and positive, working effectively and collaboratively, delivering to a high standard, enjoying what we do, making a positive difference in the world.
We are based in Bristol, with extensive experience of working at all levels across the UK.
Projects and clients –
- Urban Agriculture Consortium (2017-23): see separate page.
- University of the West of England (2019): Delivering guidance and training on careers in the NGO and environmental sectors for faculty and MSC students
- Humanists UK (2018): A feasibility study into the scope for a natural burial ground to be run as a social enterprise, involving consultations, site visits and detailed financial permutations. “Strongly recommended”
- City to Sea: (2017-19): Strategic consultancy and fundraising for national and local projects to combat marine plastic pollution. “Great teamwork“
- Horfield and District Allotments Association (2017-18): Delivering a 100th anniversary community and oral history project. “Beyond our expectations”
- Big Lottery Fund (2016-17): Strategic consultancy on future local food funding. “Very useful“
Jeremy Iles, GFA Founder & Director. Jeremy started “doing something useful” as a cycle campaigner at Friends of the Earth in 1983, and then became the first Director of the London Wildlife Trust when he was 27. He worked in Bangladesh and Eritrea for VSO, and on returning to the UK became Regional Manager for Sustrans in the 90’s. In 2000 he joined the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens as CEO until 2016. Many of the projects and partnerships he initiated during this period have had a significant and long lasting impact nationally, including the Allotments Regeneration Initiative (2002-2014), the £57m Local Food Consortium (2002-2014), Community Land Advisory Service, and chairing the Growing Together partnership (2014-16).
Jeremy has an NVQ5 (Management) & graduated from the School for Social Entrepreneurs (2019).
Jeremy also runs an allotment, sings with The Island Folk, and plays guitar with the All at Sea ceilidh band, both of which are slowly emerging from lockdown. In November 2018 Jeremy passed his Yachtmaster exam and he is a qualified sailing instructor.
Maddy Longhurst – Maddy’s previous work focus has been campaigning for the protection of land within the planning system (Founder of Blue Finger Alliance, Bristol). She also works on low cost and free thermal imaging surveys to provide householders with data to inform housing retrofit as Survey Manager of The C.H.E.E.S.E Project CIC – Cold Homes Energy Efficiency Survey Experts). She is also helping to create the organisational infrastructure for the Tiny House Community Bristol, enabling the creation of common good regenerative settlements in the West of England using dynamic governance. Maddy worked on Phase 1 of the urban agriculture project in 2019.