Forum Structure
GreenSpace North West is a unique partnership involving a variety of local, regional and national organisations. The decision makers are member elected individuals who represent active members of GreenSpace North West on the steering group and any member can raise a query for consideration and decision. The steering group is accountable to GreenSpace board of trustees and to ensure trustees are active members of GreenSpace, many sit on the various region’s steering groups and or the National Forum. In our region, Norman Hudson is chair of the steering group and a trustee of GreenSpace.
All members are invited to attend the sub-regional group meetings for their area. At these meetings a chair and vice chair is elected who under the groups terms of reference commits to attend the steering group to represent the sub-region. Items are raised and discussed and these meetings and updates are taken to the steering group together with suggestions for research, project work or events etc that the sub-regional group would like support in developing. Approved suggestions/ requests are forwarded into GreenSpace North West’s business plan and action plan. These documents support the business plan of GreenSpace National Forum.
For example, all Merseyside authorities are members and regularly meet as a sub-regional group. There is an elected chair and vice chair and meetings are well attended. The group have considered many topics such as Green Flag, older children’s play provision and community friends and forum. Going forward, plans include a risk management workshop to address the various issues around this and holding a series of events to celebrate Merseyside Year of Environment 2009. In addition a Parks Celebration Event will be held in 2009; (the Cheshire group host theirs in September 2008). These items have been taken forward to the steering group and consequentially included within the GreenSpace North West business plan and carried forward into the GreenSpace National Forum action plan which is reported to the board of trustees.
In addition to the sub-regional groups working groups concentrate on a particular area of work that the region wants to develop and be linked with other regions to advocate at a national level. These groups are open to anyone who wishes to volunteer their specialist knowledge and commitment to the subject area. There are working groups committed to funding for parks and green spaces; influencing learning, training and skill development of park’s practitioners; community involvement and a new project working group to oversee a number of smaller areas of work. Again these groups report to the steering group and business carried forward as above.
The chair of the steering group and the GreenSpace North West Forum Manager regularly meet with GreenSpace informally and at a number of regular meetings. These include the National Forum, and a Regional Development Group. The Forum Manager, as an employee of GreenSpace, funded by membership of the region, attends regular staff meetings with other regional staff and the regional manager, Sarah Moore. Through these meetings GreenSpace North West links with other regional forums and the four main activities of GreenSpace; (community, education, improvement and awareness).
For a diagram illustrating the structure of GreenSpace North West, Click here.
All members are invited to attend the sub-regional group meetings for their area. At these meetings a chair and vice chair is elected who under the groups terms of reference commits to attend the steering group to represent the sub-region. Items are raised and discussed and these meetings and updates are taken to the steering group together with suggestions for research, project work or events etc that the sub-regional group would like support in developing. Approved suggestions/ requests are forwarded into GreenSpace North West’s business plan and action plan. These documents support the business plan of GreenSpace National Forum.
For example, all Merseyside authorities are members and regularly meet as a sub-regional group. There is an elected chair and vice chair and meetings are well attended. The group have considered many topics such as Green Flag, older children’s play provision and community friends and forum. Going forward, plans include a risk management workshop to address the various issues around this and holding a series of events to celebrate Merseyside Year of Environment 2009. In addition a Parks Celebration Event will be held in 2009; (the Cheshire group host theirs in September 2008). These items have been taken forward to the steering group and consequentially included within the GreenSpace North West business plan and carried forward into the GreenSpace National Forum action plan which is reported to the board of trustees.
In addition to the sub-regional groups working groups concentrate on a particular area of work that the region wants to develop and be linked with other regions to advocate at a national level. These groups are open to anyone who wishes to volunteer their specialist knowledge and commitment to the subject area. There are working groups committed to funding for parks and green spaces; influencing learning, training and skill development of park’s practitioners; community involvement and a new project working group to oversee a number of smaller areas of work. Again these groups report to the steering group and business carried forward as above.
The chair of the steering group and the GreenSpace North West Forum Manager regularly meet with GreenSpace informally and at a number of regular meetings. These include the National Forum, and a Regional Development Group. The Forum Manager, as an employee of GreenSpace, funded by membership of the region, attends regular staff meetings with other regional staff and the regional manager, Sarah Moore. Through these meetings GreenSpace North West links with other regional forums and the four main activities of GreenSpace; (community, education, improvement and awareness).
For a diagram illustrating the structure of GreenSpace North West, Click here.
Supporters
The following have made financial contributions to the Forum:-Allerdale Borough Council
Blackburn & Darwen Borough Council
Blackpool Borough Council
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
Burnley Borough Council
Bury Metropolitan Borough Council
CABE Space
Carlisle City Council
Cheshire County Council
Copeland Borough Council
Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council
Fylde Borough Council
GreenSpace
Halton Borough Council
Hyndburn Borough Council
Knowlsey Metropolitan Borough Council
Liverpool City Council
Macclesfield Borough Council
Manchester City Council
Oldham Borough Council
Pendle Borough Council
Preston City Council
Rochdale Borough Council
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
South Ribble Borough Council
St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council
Warrington Borough Council
Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
Wyre Borough Council
The forum's status
GreenSpace North West is an unincorporated association – formed by a consortium of strategic partners.The Forum is linked to the national organisation GreenSpace, which provides management support and is the employing organisation for the Forum’s staff.
GreenSpace is a charity and a company limited by guarantee.