Starting or joining a friend’s group is a great way of staying connected to the local community, spending time with likeminded people and being involved in decision making for the development of your local area.

You can be involved as much or as little as you like, depending how much spare time you have.

We have around 60 groups helping to take care of parks and open spaces. Every group is different, but most work in local parks and do litter picking, pruning and planting.

Some fundraise, run events, or run educational activities. A few are watch groups, keeping an eye out for livestock or issues during regular visits to the site.

You can check our volunteering map for existing friends groups in your area.

How to set up a friends group

To start a friends group:

• choose a greenspace - this can be large or small
• recruit some members
• form an informal group - a chairman, a treasurer and a secretary
• write a constitution, aims and objectives and list of members
• email greenvolunteer@bcpcouncil.gov.uk and our Community Engagement Officer will come and meet you and together write a Friends of Pledge, outlining what you both want for the greenspace
• get some public liability insurance to operate on the land

As a constituted group, you can then apply for funding and grants to pay for things like tools, plants, raised beds or whatever you need for your project.

Open a bank account in the name of the Friends of group so you can receive the funds and pay for any items through this account. You can now begin other fundraising.

The Community Action website has helpful information on starting your own friends group.