Utilising our parks and green spaces for Green Social Prescribing sessions is set to grow in popularity as it becomes an integral part of the UK’s health and care strategy. For Friends of parks and greenspace community groups, the GSP programme could provide an opportunity for funding and allow a wider variety of local people to discover the volunteer work, events and activities that take place at your site.
Funding & Finance
Getting money for your projects can be difficult, so we hope the information below will help your fundraising efforts.
Six important policy documents for Friends Groups – free to download!
Having key policy documents agreed is important for Friends Groups. This article shares six useful examples which you can download for free.
Events in London’s Parks: The Friends’ perspective
A new report with extensive contributions from London Friends of Parks groups has been released, looking at the increasing use of London’s Parks and green spaces for events. The report has an introduction by Dave Morris chair of the National Federation of Parks and Greenspaces.
July 14 2020
Festivals and events in our parks; a money generator but is it a step too far?
Events taking place in open green spaces generate useful money for Councils, but local communities can be significantly disadvantaged. Research as park of the Festspace project looks into this contentious issue.
2 July 2020
Restoring and managing a historic ‘People’s Park’ – Warley Woods Community Trust, Sandwell, West Midlands
Warley Woods is a 100-acre community park which is a mix of woodland, open meadow and a golf course. It has registered, grade 2 status with English Heritage. It was saved from being developed for housing by public subscription and was opened as public park in 1906 and became known as “The People’s Park”.
Engaging the generations – Friends of Hednesford Park, Cannock, West Midlands
The group started in 2011 because Cannock Chase Council wanted to gain a Heritage Lottery bid, which they achieved. The council assisted by The Friends of Hednesford Park successfully obtained a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant of £2.2M as part of the improvements to the park and war memorial.
Restoration of 13th Century mill – Friends of Broadwaters, Wyre Forest, Worcestershire
Friends of Broadwaters are a group of some 60 members who help manage the park at Broadwaters which covers an area of 2.022 hectares. Located on the outskirts of Kidderminster, it hosts the Broadwaters Annual Fair and Christmas Fair. The Friends group was formed eighteen years ago, following a project instigated by Wyre Forest District Council, and supported by the Local Heritage Initiative.
From an anti-social to a social space – Friends of East Rugby Group, Rugby
Friends of East Rugby Group (FERG) have been going a couple of years. The Friends took on a little local park because it was becoming a very anti-social park, yet it had a nice area for the children to play. There were drug problems on the site and it was becoming generally rundown and neglected, thankfully the Council help the group and support them with their mission to make the park feel welcome and loved again.
Fundraising Guide For Community Groups
A fantastic well-researched guide with links to help any Friends groups apply for grants or funding. Written by Groundwork UK and shared with permission on the Park Community UK website.
Bringing together community groups to work with other stakeholders – Greenhavens Network, Sussex
A collaboration of people who want to protect and improve their local green spaces in Sussex. Working in partnerships and collaboratively, volunteers come together to enhance their parks and open spaces for people and wildlife.
