About Us
We are a grassroots network supporting and encouraging people to care for parks and open spaces across our city. We bring together community volunteers, local groups, and partners who want to see Birmingham’s green spaces thrive. As network builders, we connect and empower groups to share ideas, skills, and opportunities – but we don’t directly provide maintenance services for parks and open spaces. Our work is guided by knowledgeable Trustees and a management committee made up of volunteers from member groups across the city.
What we mean by “Open Space”
To us, an open space is any outdoor area that matters to a local community, somewhere people can connect with nature, each other, and their neighbourhood.
- Parks and playing fields
- Allotments and community gardens
- Woodlands, nature reserves, and wildlife corridors
- Cemeteries and country parks
- Even the green at the end of your road
What we do
BOSF helps local groups and individuals by:
- Sharing knowledge – connecting you with others who’ve faced similar challenges
- Providing useful updates – on funding, training, events, and volunteering opportunities
- Offering support – including free training sessions, group meet-ups, and practical resources
- Promoting your work – through our newsletter, website and social media
- Championing your voice – advocating for volunteers and open spaces across the city
- Access to fundraising services (subject to criteria) – support for raising funds to help your group realise its potential.
- Providing free insurance – for full member groups working on council land.
Who is BOSF for?
If you’re involved in looking after a park, open space or green area in Birmingham, BOSF is for you.
Our members include:
- Friends groups
- Community and residents’ groups
- Neighbourhood forums
- Allotment Associations
- Community Gardening Groups
- People with the best interest for their environment at heart
- Professionals working with or supporting open spaces
Why join?
By joining BOSF, your group becomes part of a friendly, growing movement that makes a real difference to open spaces across Birmingham.
And it’s completely free to join!
We have three membership levels depending largely on your group’s progress towards a constitution, and each of which comes with different benefits.
Full Members Benefits
- Full voting rights at our AGM
- Access to the Seedcorn Fund
- Free insurance if working on Birmingham Council land
- Access to peer-to-peer support
- Networking
- Other additional benefits that may occasionally be available
Developing Members Benefits
- Full voting rights at our AGM
- Other additional benefits that may occasionally be available
- Free insurance if working on Birmingham Council land
- Access to peer-to-peer support
- Networking
- Other additional benefits that may occasionally be available
Affiliate Members Benefits
- Networking
- Other additional benefits that may occasionally be available.
Want to find out more?
If you wish to setup your own group, or you are already part of a group that looks after an open space in Birmingham – we’d love to have you on board!
Email [email protected] or fill in the BOSF Membership Form
Support our work
By donating through the Just Giving button below, you’re directly contributing to the empowerment of volunteers in Birmingham, who help to enrich our city’s environment.
Your generosity enables us to continue providing essential resources, training, and support to these passionate individuals, ensuring our open spaces thrive for generations to come. Thank you in advance for your kind donation. Together, we can make a difference!
Got a concern?
We hope you’ll never need this – but if you do, here’s our Complaints Policy