A “Friends of” Group can serve the local community in many functions. The main focus is usually a park or open space, so the group must have a fair representation of the local community and groups who use the park. Sub groups can be formed that report to the main group. The Friends Group can carry out many tasks, functions, opportunities etc associated with the promotion and management of their park. Here are some possibilities.
As the public sector is being forced to do more with less, fundraising is itself a good reason for the formation of a Friends Group, but should not be the only reason. Some funding opportunities are for councils only and some for community groups only. The group needs to work in partnership with the council if it intends to raise funds to carry out improvement works to council owned or run parks. This also applies to parks that are owned or run by other land owners.
- Sports days - organising family orientated sports days, football, athletics, coaching session's etc
- Easter Egg Hunts - celebrate Spring and the better weather to come with an Easter egg hunt
- Community Planting Days - assisting the Council and its volunteer partner British Trust
Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) in planting and maintenance projects
- Guided Walks - Given the potential to have an extensive array of knowledge within the Friends of Group, there is the opportunity for the various groups or individual groups throughout the borough to have a series of parks and open space guided walks
- Volunteer Days - Co-ordinate Volunteer Days forming or repairing paths, clearing vegetation, painting out graffiti, painting furniture, buildings, lamp posts, fences etc. There are many park or conservation volunteers throughout the boroughs parks and open spaces.
The Friends Group, in conjunction with Richmond's Parks and Open Spaces are an ideal avenue for promoting and supporting the departments' park bench donation programme.
Like with park bench donations the Friends Group in conjunction with Richmond's Parks and Open Spaces are an ideal avenue for promoting and supporting the departments' tree donation programme.
The borough has a large number of affiliated tree wardens, the council is proud of the work these people do. The Friend's of Group is also an ideal network for promoting the Tree Warden scheme and the associated activities.
Newsletter - a newsletter to help promote the above and membership,
Website - to help promote the above and membership, link to other Websites i.e. friends Groups, LBRuT, park related organisations. A very good example of a Friends Group Website is http://www.force.org.uk/ http://www.vauxhallpark.org.uk/
Friends Groups are often formed after a local authority made a decision about a park or open space that is unfavourable with a proportion of a local community or there is a building, playground, paths, a historic garden, lighting etc that has deteriorated to an intolerable and unacceptable level. Although unacceptable and negative, trust has to be rebuilt within the community and Friends Group or strong groups within the borough have formed in this way. This shows that people are passionate and care about open spaces and this enthusiasm in the community enables the group to form.
If your group is within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, you should contact SWLEN so we can provide help and support from the start. SWLEN has experienced officers who have helped set up many successful groups and have supported people and groups through difficult situations. The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames will only acknowledge a Friends Group that has a democratic open membership.
1. Create a positive focus to generate enthusiasm within the community, e.g. hold an event with key objectives.
2. Perform a skills audit within the local community to help spread work load.
3. Get people together.
4. Ensure fair representation of all site users.
The initiator must rally all of the park's associated groups to take part in either the grant application or focus event, i.e. consider the bowls, tennis, football and cricket clubs etc, day care, nursery, play group, café operator, conservation volunteers, neighbouring school, residents association, civic amenity society, church etc.
5. You must form a democratic structure consisting of a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Secretary. You need a constitution which clearly defines the election process i.e. number of people to present, length of term, stand down period, membership of the group, charges (if any) for membership, how it reports to the wider group of people etc. Whilst this may seem bureaucratic, it ensures the group operates in an open and transparent way, protecting the interests of the community, Members and the elected committee and we adopted by the wider group. For a constitution template, you can download our Friends group constitution - template - MS Word.
SWLEN can advise the most appropriate constitution for your group, as in the list below. A structure or shell refers to whether you will be a company, i.e. a body that can own assets and employment staff and have to file annual accounts to Companies House. Status refers to whether the group seeks charity status, regulated by the Charity and annual accounts will also be filed. An incorporated charitable trust has both regulators. Options are :
SWLEN has helped groups with all of these structures and statuses and can provide local examples. If the group forms a charitable trust (i.e. seeking charitable status) or will manage finances they must elect a Treasurer. There is no need to form a charitable trust unless the group plans a large fundraising campaign or the group intends to purchase assets, e.g. mower, computers etc or needs to agree with the council whether the park or open space is leased or the group takes on a responsibility to manage.
Community bank accounts are available at most high street banks as well as specialist charity banks. Establishing either type of bank account can take time.
6. The Friends Group must decide how often the committee and the wider group each meet.
SWLEN can initially attend twice a year, but additional support must be agreed. The Friends Group can meet as often as it likes and SWLEN can continue to attend meetings. The meetings must produce minutes that can be responded to, by the designated officer.
7. Using the initial skills audit, the group should nominate relevant specialists. The nominees should be willing to assist LBRuT in the management of the open space, the Greenspace Stakeholder Forum and the Environmental Groups’ Forum when developing the strategic direction for Richmond's parks and open spaces. Specialisms to consider are conservation and wildlife, play, horticulture, sport, grant funding, sponsorship, Web design, promotion etc.
8. After the initial meetings are held, you thenagree targ ets for the next year with the SWLEN or LBRuT Officer. One targets would be the reason why the group was formed. To keep people informed about the group, use email, websites, social media (Facebook, Twitter etc) or printed newsletters.
9. It is hard to keep the Friends Group together as interest wanes and members must continually be recruited. This can be helped with annual events, developing a website and regular newsletter updates.
SWLEN can provide a free page on its website, with your activities on the site’s Events Calendar, with the entries submitted to local papers. SWLEN can advise on developing and maintaining a website very cheaply.
Fundraising may be needed as events or volunteer days require insurance. SWLEN can advise on funding opportunities, such as grant applications to charitable trusts, holding events, earning income etc.
SWLEN’s website has information and resources at SWLEN.org.uk/help-for-a-group
The Environmental Groups Forum encourages communication between all parties, sharing information and good practice. The Forum disseminate useful information to the groups such as funding. Forums are often organised when the Council is running a consultation exercise so that SWLEN can facilitate local group’s involvement and provide advice. Youcan Contact us.
BTCV has the following books :
BTCV Local Action, see http://shop.btcv.org.uk/shop/level2/60/stock/961
This book is also available free available when you join BTCV Community Network, which also gives you access to cheaper insurance.
BTCV Urban Handbook http://shop.btcv.org.uk/shop/level2/59/stock/955
BTCV Environments for All http://shop.btcv.org.uk/shop/level2/104/stock/4253
Green Space publish many books on related topics, including Making a Difference, How to Set Up and Maintain a Community Group of Parks and Green Spaces http://www.green-space.org.uk/resources/
Copies of these books can also be borrowed from SWLEN’s Resource Library.
South West London Environment Network
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