Volunteering and Community Based Physical Activity Programmes

Active Parks

A Birmingham Co-production

Cotteridge Park 1997

Friends Groups

Birmingham Open Spaces ForumHow not to re-invent the wheel

• 130+ groups• Share knowledge and experiences• Collective voice for the volunteers looking

after the city’s open spaces• 50 hours of labour donated per site per month• £24k average funding raised per site• Lobbying for the protection of our open

spaces.

Aesthetic Value

Nothing new under the sun

An Act for establishing Parks in or near to the Borough of Birmingham - July 1854

“Whereas it would be greatly for the Benefit of the Inhabitants of the Borough of Birmingham that

there should be provided for their Use Parks and Gardens for the

Purposes of healthful & pleasurable Resort”

Volunteering and using a park is physical activity

• Free, fun, local activities• Suitable for the perpetual beginner• No lycra required• Activities chosen by Friends groups – suitable for

their community• Volunteers integral to session delivery• “Trusted voice”

Active Parks Leisure Centres without Walls

Zumba

Forest School

GreenFit

GreenFit Baby

Couch to 5k

Tai Chi

SwingFit

Volunteers – cheap not free