Stockport's Communities in Green Space Forum

Who? Where? When?

Set up in 1999 Stockport's Green Space Forum is an umbrella organisation for groups active in Stockport's green spaces. Partners include: Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council parks & recreation service, Stockport Council for Voluntary Service, Stockport Metropolitan Allotment & Growers Association, bowling groups, other sports groups and parks community groups.

Contact Details

Kath Hughes, Park Development Manager, Parks & Recreation, Stopford House, Piccadilly, Stockport SK1 3XE. kath.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

Objectives

• To promote effective care and community ownership of Stockport’s green spaces
• To allow other groups to benefit from shared experiences and knowledge
• To provide a cohesive voice to influence decision making in relation to green space
• To become a registered Environmental Body (ENTRUST) to enable & support grant applications to Landfill Tax Credit Schemes
• To establish information gathering and dissemination systems
• To raise the profile of Stockport’s green spaces

The Process

A meeting was provided for all interested parties involved in green space to assess whether there was interest in setting up a group. Workshops were utilised to formulate aims and objectives and subsequently interested parties were contacted and a group was established.

The group meet regularly with council support and assistance (officer time). Other support includes administration, ENTRUST liaison, website assistance, shared actions, elements of networking co-ordination and attendance at events. Resources such as posting, photocopying, printing, room booking hire, refreshment provision and display materials are provided.

Achievements and Outcomes

• ENTRUST registration and significant grant funding
• Annual General Meetings, networking events, website creation and newsletter distribution
• Training funding & provision
• Resource Centre provision
• Funding for & procurement of group administrator
• Recognised group for influencing green space decisions
• Volunteer award scheme

Lessons Learnt / Key Advice

The Forum members are already volunteers with their individual green space groups and often have other volunteer interests, so they sometimes find it hard to give time to support the Forum.

The organisation has been more resource hungry than originally anticipated and now that their own Administrator has been funded via local Councilors, they should be much more self sustainable.

The organisation's committee has 10 members, which is needed to give a variety of views and experience, and to share the workload. A resource room, provided for groups by the Forum, is very under utilised and we need to do an assessment of this. Being ENTRUST registered is a complicated and time consuming process but is a life-line for groups requiring funds. This group is regionally unique and we should ensure more people know about it.