You can start a new group in a park where none exists.
We work with volunteer led Friends of Park groups across Bristol to care for and improve our city's green spaces.
There are over 60 active Friends of Park groups in Bristol. View a list on the Bristol Parks Forum site.
What Friends of Park groups do
- Consult with park users
- Promote activities and park plans
- Organise events
- Raise money for park improvements
- Organise and deliver group outdoor activities, such as litter picking
Start a new Friends of Park group
If there's no existing group for your park, you can start one.
Contact us to start a new group
Or you can phone our Bristol Parks Volunteer Coordinator on 07810 506 738.
Before starting your group, you'll need to:
- apply to be a parks and green space lead volunteer
- attend our Parks Health and Safety training
- have at least one main contact person for public enquiries and to keep in touch with the Parks team
Support for your Friends of Park group
Our team can provide support for your group. As well as general advice, we can help you to:
- make a plan to engage others
- liaise with parks decision-makers
- develop your ideas into proposals for our parks team
- help structure your group
- identify appropriate funding opportunities
We also work with Your Park, Bristol Parks Forum and other community organisations to support your group.
Promote your Friends of Park group
Once your group is set up, you may want to promote your activities through:
- a poster that can be displayed on local noticeboards. The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society has guidance on making accessible posters.
- social media, such as a Facebook page, Instagram or X profile
- a WhatsApp group. Read our pdf WhatsApp group guidance(144 KB) first.
- a website
- a newsletter
- universities, if you're looking to seek student volunteers
- the online volunteering platform Can Do Bristol. You can recruit new volunteers and request specific skills or materials. It's free to use.
You may want to set up a group email account with shared access for 2 to 4 volunteers to monitor.
It's important to get support for your ideas from other park users and the local community.
Resources for your Friends of Parks group
The resources below offer guidance to develop your park or green space activity programme and group.
Key contacts
We have a pdf Key Contacts for Bristol Park Volunteers(595 KB) directory which includes 14 contacts that can offer guidance, help and support for you and your group.
How to guides
- pdf Community asset transfers(96 KB)
- pdf Community events(128 KB)
- pdf Small scale projects(208 KB)
- pdf Large projects and play facilities(84 KB)
- pdf Large scale tree planting projects(88 KB)
- pdf Street trees and tree sponsorship(82 KB)
Roles in the group
- pdf How to be a chairperson(37 KB)
- pdf How to be a secretary(44 KB)
- pdf How to be a treasurer(35 KB)
Finance
Park surveys and engagement
You may need to carry out a survey before starting a project in your park to check your idea has the backing of the local community. Online surveys reach a wider range of people. Learn how to create effective online surveys. Or use our:
Working effectively with volunteers
- document Setting aims for your group template(43 KB)
- document Leading groups of volunteers agreement template(154 KB)
Sample policies for establishing your group
The Parks Community website have policy samples you can adapt for your group: