Project Overview
Bristol and Bath's parks are crucial to the communities that they sit within - they have been real lifelines during the pandemic. Many of their green spaces are supported by grassroots community and voluntary Friends of Groups (FoGs). These FoG are the parks’ community heroes, running events, supporting volunteers and providing opportunities for their community to connect with their green space.
2020 has been a challenging year for FoGs. The pandemic has prevented them from running their usual activities and the new lockdown and coming winter months mean they are facing more months of frustration.
Using Isla’s grant, they will hold listening sessions with FoGs to find out what they need to prepare for activities starting in Spring, develop online resources and training from experts and promote the schedule of activities to the local community. Part of the project will also involve conversations around how to increase diversity within the group and developing an action plan to ensure it is representative of the local demographic.
By strengthening these groups, they will support them to improve their local park for nature, increase community cohesion, support both city’s responses to the declared Climate and Ecological Emergencies and improve community health and wellbeing.