Leading Change for a Greener Bodmin:Linda Grant
Leave a CommentLeading Change for a Greener Bodmin:
Linda Grant
Small changes, big impact.
As part of this year’s Great Big Green Week, we wanted to shine a light on someone whose care, commitment and quiet determination has changed the way we work at intoBodmin — for the better and greener!
Meet Linda Grant — Environmental Impact Volunteer, Carbon Literacy Facilitator, community choir member, stats enthusiast, encourager of people, and all-round brilliant human being.
Linda volunteers with intoBodmin one day a week, helping us measure and understand our environmental impact — from audience travel and energy use to the information we report back to Arts Council England. It’s detailed work, thoughtful work, and work that genuinely helps shape the way we think and act as an organisation.
But prior to working with us, Linda had no experience doing environmental stuff at all.
How it began
From the Civil Service to the community choir
Linda first got involved with intoBodmin after taking early retirement from a 38.5-year career in the Civil Service.
“I retired at the end of October 2023 and suddenly had a bit more free time. I wanted to give something back to the local community.”
Her first step into the organisation was through Belt It Out Bodmin Community Choir.
“I love singing, so that felt like an easy first step in. I also wanted to keep my admin skills going and meet more people because I never really got that opportunity in my previous job.”
That one small step quickly became something much bigger. Since then, Linda has become part of the fabric of intoBodmin life — bringing her experience in customer service, administration, training and data analysis into a completely different environment.
“I don’t have any background in the arts side of things. But I can bring my field of expertise to intoBodmin and make a difference.”
And she absolutely has. So what happens when a volunteer leads change?
Leading change
Carbon Literacy, one step at a time
One of the biggest ways Linda has influenced our organisation has been through environmental work and Carbon Literacy training.
“Participating in Carbon Literacy training with Linda was a wonderful and challenging experience. The challenging part was the topic and information, but the wonderful part was having Linda’s support and expertise, which meant our conversations were really rich and interesting — and I was able to complete the sessions and written work to gain my accreditation. It was a really rewarding experience to witness Linda step into this role and lead the staff team in this way. It felt like the kind of collaborative, community-led work that intoBodmin is really about.”
Linda approaches environmental action in a way that feels hopeful, practical and achievable — something that reflects the wider values behind Great Big Green Week too.
“Environmental issues can feel really big, daunting and scary. But don’t be afraid of it. Even one small change is still an improvement. One little step has a roll-on effect and encourages others to think differently too.”
The ripple effect
Volunteering has changed Linda’s life too
“It’s helped my mental and physical health and I’m so glad I did it. It’s opened so many other doors for me.”
Through the choir, volunteering and community events, Linda has built friendships and connections across Bodmin that she might never otherwise have found.
“It’s increased my sense of community. There’s so much going on in Bodmin and when you join together you start to see all the positives happening around the town. It is there if you want to look for it.”
“What would I say to someone thinking about volunteering? Just do it. It’s an opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills, keep using the skills you already have and stay active physically and mentally. Just start with a hello. Be friendly, open and get chatting. It gets easier every time.”
At intoBodmin, we often talk about creating spaces where change can happen. Linda’s story is a reminder that change doesn’t always arrive loudly. Sometimes it begins quietly — with a choir rehearsal, a conversation, a spreadsheet, a cup of tea, or one person deciding they’d like to help.
We are incredibly fortunate to have Linda as part of our organisation and immensely grateful for the care, knowledge and encouragement she continues to bring to our team and community. We celebrate her this Great Big Green Week!
This Great Big Green Week, we hope stories like Linda’s encourage more people to think about the small changes they can make too — whether that’s volunteering, learning something new, joining a local group, or simply starting a conversation. Because those small changes really do matter.
🌿 Small changes. Real impact.
Want to get involved?
During Great Big Green Week we’ll be sharing more stories, activities and ideas connected to community action, creativity and sustainability. If Linda’s story has inspired you to volunteer, connect with others or get involved in local projects, we’d love to hear from you.
