120,094 hours of community dedication – and counting!
Between April 2025 and March 2026, the volunteers behind Birmingham’s Friends Groups gave an extraordinary 120,094 hours to their local parks and open spaces. Based on the Real Living Wage of £13.45/hr, that’s worth £1,615,264 – but no figure can fully capture what this means to the communities, wildlife and green spaces that benefit every day.
From hands-on conservation and woodland work to community events, school visits and everything else that keeps our parks thriving – this is what people power looks like. Our Friends Groups are made up of ordinary people doing extraordinary things for their local green spaces, improving wellbeing, connecting neighbours, supporting wildlife and keeping Birmingham’s parks and open spaces thriving for everyone to enjoy.
Want to get involved?
Volunteering with a Friends Group is about so much more than giving back – though it is that too. It’s a chance to get outdoors, meet like-minded people in your neighbourhood, learn new skills, and feel a real sense of pride in the place you call home. Whether you have an hour a month or a few hours a week, every bit makes a difference – and many of our volunteers tell us it’s been genuinely brilliant for their health and wellbeing.
Find your nearest Friends Group or get in touch at [email protected] and we’ll help point you in the right direction.