The Juno Project

Juno Enterprise Charitable Association was established in Autumn 1984 & was up and running, delivering benefits by 1985. We went on to become a registered charity, charity number: 1169031.The Charity had the following trustees: N. Saunders, A. Saunders, N. Daintree, A. Wright, P. Tipping and our administrative member: D. Thomas. 

In Autumn 2024 we celebrated 40 years of achievements. 

During that time we gained funding from the National Lottery. We were delighted to deliver our programme: "Out to Learn" with our Juno Enterprise Learning Community. 

The "Out to Learn" programme was a huge, popular success 

 

(Above: learning about natural and cultural heritage, South Yorkshire)

After celebrating our 40th anniversary, it was acknowledged that so much had been achieved and sustained over such a long period and that all of our objectives had been met. With this in mind, the decision was taken to dissolve the charity and wind up the organisation. 

However, having worked closely with two partners, Dawn Chorus Educational Initiative CIC & First Peace Chaplaincy on a co-operative partnership called Triple Helix, the chance was offered to acknowledge the historical contribution that had been made by Juno Enterprise Charitable Association, by naming a project jointly delivered by Dawn Chorus Educational Initiative and First Peace Chaplaincy:

 The "Juno Project". 

In Michaelmas term 2004, this project picked up the valuable work on Democracy & Governance that had been delivered by Juno Enterprise, within the Triple Helix. This fitted well within the Dawn Chorus objective: Supporting Communities and both organisations had similar delivery mechanisms: Learning Community Networks to engage, nurture, motivate, enable, encourage and support learning. The Juno Project, focuses on community support, infrastructure support, democracy and governance learning. It offers participation, learning resources, assemblies, deliberations, communication, forums & experience with the potential to increase self determination. Benefits include increase in thoughtful, mindful & compassionate attitudes; opportunity; multi level community connections and potential through Dawn Chorus Educational Initiative International Co-operation programme. For example: to start Michaelmas Term 2024 one of our communities of Interest Learning Groups discussed plans and expectations for the Democracy and Governance Programme, by debating concepts of inclusion & involvement, transparency and truth, pluralism and neoliberalism, freedom of speech, systems & accountability.

Dawn Chorus Educational Initiative volunteers, working on the Juno Project and Triple Helix Project, meet like minded people who care about our communities. They get involved with events, activities, local groups, projects and delivering resources. Volunteer teams produce a range of resources for use with our Learning Community, from healthy eating and attachment and PACE parenting, to basic skills and helping hedgehogs. The annual seasonal work that our volunteers do on heritage and wildlife monitoring and surveys, builds identification skills whilst creating important local maps of trees, plants, animals, landscapes and cultural heritage. Volunteers have previously nurture peer support groups for families with adopted children. Adult care has been a recent learning topic.
 
Dawn Chorus have made a huge expansion of Juno Project and Triple Helix community learning resources. We have built KS1-4 resources and added to our diversity resources; trans racial adoption information and elective home education support. Popular spring activities have included a children's pre-history project and family wildlife activities for ponds and bees.

Below, top: what a nice "thank you" gift from Little Adventurers Forest School for our help with the woodland winter festivities for children and families. Below the "wishing yule log that the forest school children made.

Our Moth-Watch Challenge had good community participation and turned up many colourful species such as the Poplar Hawk Moth.

Above & below: volunteers pictures taken on activities throughout the year.

What our supporters say

“With so many years of experience to draw upon, The Juno Project is a ground breaking initiative with a valuable, enlightened message. Though small, the project catalyses rejuvenation in the Dawn Chorus area of benefit and in some of the poorest places around the world. The project empathizes with communities, engaging volunteers and advancing practical and informative learning activities that help people to feel good”, Barbara B., supporter.

(Above: volunteer's photograph...we are working hard to help bees and pollinating insects)

“By networking knowledge and encouraging people to share skills and help each other, locally and internationally, the Dawn Chorus Juno Project is making an excellent contribution to the wellbeing of our communities and planet Earth”, F. Brown, supporter.

Below: As part of a project funded by The National Lotteries Awards for All, Juno Enterprise produced foraging bags for children's environmental learning activities; Woodborough Preschool said: "These bags are wonderful, they will really help the children with communication skills. The children will love them, they are a good activity". As They were very well received, Dawn Chorus decided to up date & expand this resource for the Triple Helix Project.  

 Above: Andrea Wright at Woodborough Preschool. Cindy Bamford, children's activity leader thanked us for supporting Woodborough Preschool: “it has enabled us to purchase thermal socks and warm waterproof gloves (see below) which will allow the children to experience and hopefully learn to appreciate nature all year round. The children are really happy learning and having fun in their natural environment. The gloves and socks are keeping the children lovely and warm. “  

Significant support has been given to the SEND project, it is open to young people aged 14 – 17 and is based at the Greenway Community & Training Centre (below) in the Sneinton area of Nottingham. The areas population has a high proportion people from new and emerging communities, in particular from the Czech Roma community. Moon Cavanagh a director of SEND said: “thank you once again for supporting the work we do at SEND, it really is most appreciated".
 

(Below: delivering landscape conservation and skills development & promoting outdoor education for all ages)

With whom we work

In order to deliver the Juno vision: “Educate to Rejuvenate: to aid & benefit our communities”, Juno Enterprise built a coherent Learning Community. This fitted with the object to build learning groups at Dawn Chorus Educational Initiative. An announcement was made on the Juno Enterprise Facebook page, offering Juno Learning Group members the opportunity to support and join in with the Dawn Chorus community. Dawn Chorus Learning Communities and Communities of Interest Learning Groups, operate across localities and aims to maximize participation. They are open to individuals who may be disadvantaged or lacking in confidence, community based groups and specialist researchers and communicators. We support forest schools and elective home education groups. We challenge bullying and racism.

 

Our work has added value because we roll out and share the benefits and advantage as far as possible, demonstrating best practice. 

We advance understanding and offer experience:

•  to develop, wellbeing, confidence, skills, knowledge and employ-ability
•  to promote respect and compassion and conserve the local environment
• to promote volunteering, cooperation and contribution to a positive & ethical society 
• to share knowledge, interest, friendship and enjoyment 
  

 We aim to benefit:

• unemployed people & young people not in education  
• mental health service users or people with depression, dementia or learning disabilities 
•  those, from inner-city or rural locations that may lack services & transport, who feel isolated, including older people and carers. We challenge bullying.
• those with physical ill health  
• ex service personnel  
• ethnic and minority members of the community. We challenge racism.
• refugees and homeless people. 
• families in receipt of pupil premium or free school meals, including adoptive families and fostered children. Women headed households and children leaving care. Elective Home Education Groups & forest experience schools.
  
• Pictured above: young peoples learning activities.    

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