Get involved and set up a park friends group!

If you are thinking about setting up a friends group, you'll be in great company with lots of people who can help you.

Friends groups come in all shapes and sizes, from a group of neighbours who meet to litter pick in their park to formally constituted charities.

A good place to start is by talking to your neighbours and friends in the area to see if they would be interested in setting up an informal group. You can also approach other park users, such as dog walkers or sports teams who use the park. Then think about the resources and experience you have in your start up group, and check out Parks Community UK for some useful guides for setting up your group.

It's a good idea to start slow, and build your activities over time as your group expands. A good way to get the message out about your group is through social media and any neighbourhood newsletters your councillors might have. Getting councillors on side with your group is valuable as they can help advocate for your group to the council and also they will have an idea what local residents in the area want from their park.

Once you've set up your group, please register with GoParksLondon. You can find a joining form here. We can also help with advice on getting your group started, and we'd love to hear from you if you have any questions.