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.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 delivered by  First Peace Chaplaincy:

 The "Juno Project". 

In the course of nurturing learning in environmental protection, the Juno Project also encompass animal welfare, community development, citizenship and democracy, human rights and well-being.

First Peace Chaplaincy's Eco Spirituality Chaplaincy offers support and environmental protection educational resources and information to advance understanding. The collection and sharing of knowledge into an accessible pool benefits people and the environment. Encouraging best practice in the delivery of learning by others, maximizes potential for positive change and engagement, which is vital to improving communities and the lives of citizens. We wish to see confidence, well-being, skills, knowledge, individual capabilities, competences and employability increased and people and communities benefiting from the promotion of respect and compassion and understanding of the environment, contributing to a positive and ethical society. Communicating specialist research will benefit  people wishing to enhance the wider community& environment.

Increased understanding of climate change and environmental issues are vital at this current time and will deliver huge benefits to mankind and the environment. Empower people to live sustainably, conserve heritage plants, wildlife, habitats, ecosystems, water, soil and clean air is vital to a continued healthy society. Eco- anxiety may be reduced by greater understanding, by empowering people to make a positive contribution and the advancement of appreciation that places and landscape heritage have special meaning to communities  Learning programmes, eco-philosophy and shared research is needed to supporting  the protection of the environment, flora, fauna, biodiversity and natural history and increased climate change awareness.

 Promoting kindness and thoughtful, mindful, spiritual and compassionate attitudes, benefit animals and people. spreading understanding that responsible and sustainable lifestyles can benefit animals, wildlife & habitats can also demonstrate that the needs of animals, nature and people can be balanced. Sharing best practice encourages people to contribute to creating communities in which the basic means of life, growth and development are available for all. People and communities may benefit from championing  creative social and environmental innovation that better equips people to contribute to communities and the social economy.

Our sustainability check-list and learning resource packs are distributed and can help people or organisations seeking to benefit the environment. By delivering learning information on organic plant-based food growing, seed saving, propagation, pollination, composting and soil management we will improve sustainable horticulture and local healthy food production. By encouraging the development and sharing of innovative low technology solutions by we benefit people seeking solutions that nurture sustainable lifestyles and the environment, especially people on low incomes, as these solutions are cheap and easily accessible, giving people greater control over there lives and improved self esteem through self reliance.

Human rights and the advancement of health and well-being, people and communities, come with understanding between persons of different races & religions; this is central to the ethos of the First Peace Chaplaincy  Interfaith Mission. Equality is built into every aspect of our work and communication. It is important to build community capacity and promot civic responsibilities, creat safer, more able and skilled societies with improved inclusion and good relations, challenging bullying, advancing equality, equity. We strive to provide good models of democracy and collective responsibility, Build skills to benefit people by enabling them to obtain their ethical aspirations and participate in making decisions that affect their communities, lives, development and access to basic requirements. We promote the reduction of harm, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and suffering and support opportunities for increased welfare, well-being, quality of life, happiness and enjoyment to people. We seek to nurture good, respectful and tolerant community relations to benefit people, making them feel involved and equally valued and respected. Understanding, spirituality and joy can be increased through learning about cultural and natural heritage issues, sustainability, the environment, climate change and nature solutions, mindfulness, healthy eating and visiting nature. 

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.

First Peace Chaplaincy fosters international co-operation to raise awareness & understanding across national boundaries. The aim is to benefit human, animal & environmental well-being, share best practice, grow compassion & celebrate culture. Three examples are given below:

Human: In May 2014 we produced a report on the 1966 symposium on the “Integration of Rehabilitation in Africa” held in Ethiopia & the subsequent orthopedic support that was established. The report was catalyzed when a friend and supporter Mr. M. Hodkinson loaned us his archive comprising documents and wonderful glass photographic slides taken by his father in Ethiopia. Our report, which was submitted to the Anglo Ethiopian Society, feeds into our International Cooperation Programme, using the headings of heritage, culture, learning and well being. We wish to extend our thanks to Mr. Hodkinson.

Animal: These photographs were taken by our community. The little "aheyawoch" (donkeys) above, clearly show wounds on the flanks.

Environment: Below, a street scene in Addis shows an area where the local community, including one of our supporters, Tsebay,  is campaigning for improvement.