What Is A Friends Of Group?

Friends of Groups in Sheffield

Sheffield has a fantastic green landscape and so it is not surprising that the city boasts one of the largest numbers of Friends Of Groups in the UK in comparison to other major cities. These groups are working in partnership with the Parks and Countryside Service to ensure that our green spaces are well used and well maintained.

What is a Friends of Group?

A Friends of Group is usually made up from residents who have got together because they have a particular interest in a local green space. The aims of a Friends of Group is usually to support a green space through working in partnership with the Parks and Countryside Service to achieve some of the following:

To ensure that a green space is better used by the local community
To provide information to the local community about a green space
To look at strategies for improved maintenance of a particular green space
To identify resources for specific improvements to a green space
To help to make a green space safer
To organise fun days, events or activities for the local community
To carry out practical tasks with us to improve/maintain a green space

How can I find out if there is a Friends of Group for my local green space?

You can find out if there is a Friends Of Group in your area by contacting us. Alternatively you could look at our friends of Groups page. Once you have identified your local group you just need to contact them to express your interest and turn up to their next meeting or event.

What can I do if there is no Friends of Group for my local green space?

If there is no existing Friends of Group in your area you could find out if local residents would be interested in forming one by talking to your neighbours and other green space users. You could put notices up in local shops or around the green space asking people if they are interested in the area and giving your details as a point of contact. The Community Partnerships Team will support anyone who wants to start a Friends of Group with practical help and advice, please contact us for more information.

Why are Friends Of Group important?

Friends of Groups are really important for green spaces because they raise the profile of an area and ensure that the area is given the correct priority when decisions are being made by the local authority and other agencies. Friends of Groups reflect the value of a particular green to it’s local community and having a dedicated group of residents supporting a green space has been shown to have significant and far reaching benefits for the space.