Birmingham Open Spaces Forum awarded National Lottery funding to grow green space volunteering in Brum

Senior Head of Regional Funding (Midlands) at The National Lottery Community Fund, Nic Thurbon, shared: “Our funding connects climate action with everyday community needs. That’s exactly what we’ve done here, in Birmingham. Putting power and resources into the hands of those - like BOSF - who know their communities best. Helping residents feel like their neighbourhood green spaces belong to them. That they can own and be involved in them. And together, through community action, we can create a more sustainable future for everyone.”

This initiative builds on BOSF’s 20-year track record of empowering grassroots volunteer groups to care for Birmingham’s parks, allotments, nature reserves, and open spaces. These groups are the city’s open spaces - this funding ensures more people can get involved, help increase local use of green spaces. Leading to safer and more inclusive environments, and will support residents to take pride and ownership in their nearby open spaces.

Mary Kennedy, Operations Director at BOSF, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to receive this funding. It means we can carry on supporting our citywide network of green space volunteers while focusing on reaching communities that have historically been left out of the conversation. It’s about a better relationship with the green spaces on doorsteps.”

Over the first year BOSF’s will begin work in each ward, getting to know communities, mapping existing spaces, and organising accessible outreach events to bring people together.

The project recognises the need for long-term, relationship-led support in communities where trust in public spaces may be low. Co-ordinators will offer hands-on guidance and one-to-one mentoring, from helping a new group adopt a constitution or set up a bank account, to supporting them with social media, fundraising, and partnership building.

By empowering local leadership and strengthening grassroots infrastructure, the project ensures that new groups will have the skills and confidence to sustain themselves beyond the life of the programme. 

“It’s a real game changer,” said a BOSF volunteer group leader.

“When you’re a new group just starting out, having support makes a real difference. This project means more people will feel like their local park or green space belongs to them!”

A resident from Nechells added: “There’s a lot of green space here, but it doesn’t always feel like it’s for us. This feels like a chance to change that.”

BOSF’s Reaching Communities project will help bring people together, improve places that matter, and support more people to fulfil their potential through volunteering, connection with nature, and community ownership of green spaces.

For more information about Birmingham Open Spaces Forum and the work the charity does, visit: bosf.org.uk or contact mary@bosf.org.uk

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