How to start a Friends group
We are here to support people in Birmingham who want to look after their local parks, nature reserves, playing fields or even just small green patches at the end of their street.
Starting a Friends group
Starting a Friends Group is a powerful way to bring people together, improve your local green space, and strengthen your community. These groups play a vital role in protecting and enhancing Birmingham’s parks and open spaces – whether that’s through organising activities, applying for funding, or simply bringing neighbours together to make a difference. BOSF helps connect individuals and groups who share this goal. Membership is free and open to anyone who supports this mission.
Doing things alone can sometimes be tough – but when neighbours, dog walkers, local schools, and community groups come together, you get new ideas, more hands on deck, and real strength in numbers. If the space matters to you and your community, it’s worth making it the best it can be.
Any group can become a member. The main criteria is that the group must consist of local residents, who have a constitution (or working towards one), and are looking after a local park, open space or street, in the Birmingham area. On receipt of your completed BOSF Membership Form, we will contact you to help you set up your group and give you all the further information you will need. Once membership has been accepted, the group will also be entitled to free insurance (when working on council land), and when volunteer data is submitted, there is currently a financial reward for this.
A group can:
- Run activities and improve the space
- Work with the council and other partners
- Apply for funding
- Make your voices heard
What kind of group can you be?
You can start informal, just a few people agreeing to get stuck in. But if you want to apply for funding or represent your community officially, it helps to become more formal with:
- A simple constitution
- A Chair, Secretary and Treasurer
- An Annual General Meeting (AGM)
What can you do as a group?
Your group can do anything that makes your space better or brings people together. Here are some real examples from BOSF member groups:
- Host a litter pick
- Plant a wildflower meadow
- Host a Community Pic-Nic
- Enjoy a Nature Walk
- Collect Christmas trees for chipping
- Organise outdoor exercise sessions
- Family fun-days
Start with a simple, fun activity that grabs attention – and don’t forget to collect contact details so you can grow your network.
How do you get people involved?
Some low-cost, effective ways to spread the word:
- Posters in the park, libraries, shops or schools
- Contact local Councillor or MP
- Local newsletters or WhatsApp groups
- Facebook or Instagram pages
- A table at local events
Let people know they don’t have to be experts, just bring a bit of time and a love for the space.
Who can help?
Birmingham Open Spaces Forum: We’ll support you at every step, from getting started to advice about running events and accessing funding.
We can help you:
- Organise your first meeting or event
- Set up social media
- Write a constitution
- Access free insurance
- Connect with the right council staff
- Apply for funding with help from Get Grants
Birmingham City Council Parks Service: Most parks are owned by the council. BOSF will help you link up with the right people, like Rangers or Area Managers – who can support your activities.
Your Councillors and MPs: Elected representatives can help champion your space.
Find your local MP
Find your local councillor
You’re not alone – join a citywide movement!
Birmingham is one of the greenest cities in the UK, with around 600 parks and open spaces – and more than 150 Friends groups working to keep them thriving.
Together, they’ve:
- Planted thousands of trees
- Created new orchards and habitats
- Built bridges and nature trails
- Run festivals, fitness classes and Forest Schools
- Won Green Flags and In Bloom awards
- Campaigned successfully to protect services
Now it’s your turn!
Start a Friends group. Make a difference. And join a growing community of local heroes across the city.
If you’d like to join BOSF as a member group, click on the Membership Form link below and fill the form in, or contact [email protected] for more info and support!