Get involved
How to get involved
There are many different ways you can get involved to support GreenSpace North West. The best and simplest way is to promote the benefits of parks and green spaces, your enjoyment of them and to share your experiences. GreenSpace North West has an e-mail network of nearly two hundred individuals who all wish to learn from the experiences of others. The critical component is that everyone contributes by telling us news, experiences, case studies and findings for the network to become the united voice for parks and green spaces that GreenSpace North West aspires to.Financially, we are a charitable organisation with no annual core funding and like all the regions we are financially independent. As with all charities, we are unable to claim VAT back as such this is proportionally a large part of our resources. Local Authority membership covers almost all funding sources for the region and there are also a number of organisations who support our work through corporate membership.
Corporate Membership/ financial support
For non local authority/ corporate membership there is a sliding scale of support fees these range from individuals, private companies, charities and government agencies such as Natural England. These low cost fees encourage joint collaboration between ourselves and are a valuable source of information sharing advocacy and development. In some instances where another charitable organisation would be seeking a similar corporate membership fee from GreenSpace North West a joint working arrangement of mutual benefit is set up in lieu of fee swapping.Sponsorship
GreenSpace North West holds an annual Open Forum which is a conference type event for approximately one hundred delegates. The event is open to anyone in the region and beyond who wish to learn the main business of GreenSpace North West, thank its membership, network and hear topical presentations GreenSpace North West is delivering on. With delegate cost between £25 and £50 per person, sponsorship is an essential part of this event. Sponsors at GreenSpace conferences have always been pleased with the interest they generate on the day as well as follow up contacts afterwards. Local Authorities also assist in sponsorship by offering to host events like this.Project funding
Resources to complete research and publish reports can begin to increase. At present all of our work is provided by existing membership fees, the forum manager and volunteer contributors from parks practitioners. At present the reports are made available to members but we have had increasing requests for these to be more widely circulated, but the cost and risk management implications may require that a nominal fee be charged to non members. This is not something we would like to introduce and therefore would greatly appreciate any project or research funding from those who have a particular subject area that they would like to see developed.In-kind support
Offering to host an event, meeting or workshop is an essential and much appreciated contribution. Many venues have been able to waive fees altogether or reduce rates to cover catering only etc. Venue promotion has benefited considerably from such offers as many new visitors are welcomed and repeat visits follow on. Offering to contribute to an event by arranging a tour of the adjacent green space, park or garden contributes positively to our events and furthers repeat visitors. Other support can be made by volunteering staff resources, covering printing costs, or simply helping the forum manager, steering, working or sub-regional groups with administrative or research tasks. Research students can greatly benefit from experience in undertaking detailed survey and analysis work, report findings and recommendations. Others may want experience in event delivery, community involvement and park volunteering. Such help is always welcomed from those with enthusiasm for parks and green spaces.Membership
Parks and green spaces are moving up the political agenda and the time is right for a united and representative organisation to call for change. If we do not act now the opportunity may be lost.GreenSpace North West provides a way for people working in the North West’s green spaces to collaborate and to express their views with one voice.
Membership of GreenSpace North West is open to local authorities and other organisations with similar aims. To join please contact the Forum Manager.
Local Authority Membership
Local authority membership rates are based on population statistics and are detailed below:| Population | Cost |
| Over 350,000 | £5,000 |
| Over 250,000 | £3,000 |
| Over 150,000 | £2,000 |
| Over 100,000 | £1,000 |
| Under 100,000 | £500 |
GreenSpace North West local authority membership also includes national membership of GreenSpace.
Non Local Authority Membership
Non local authority membership rates are based on the coverage, size and remit of individual organisations and are negotiated separately. To discuss this please contact the Forum Manager.Why Become a Member?
By becoming a member you are demonstrating your commitment to the development of the region’s green spaces, strengthening the voice of GreenSpace North West and increasing the scope of projects undertaken by the Forum.Member benefits include:
- Information, up to date news, funding opportunities, the latest good practice research and reports from the sector
- Lobbying to increase resources for parks and green spaces
- Links to policy makers and regional decision-makers
- Conferences, site visits, open meetings and training events: discounted rates
- Networking opportunities
- Advice to members
- Membership of GreenSpace
How to join
Contact Kirsty Rhind, Forum Manager to discuss membership.Kirsty Rhind
Forum Manager
GreenSpace North West
Office support
C/o Parks & Recreation
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
E: krhind@gsnw.org.uk
T: 0792 055 965
F: 0161 474 4476