To celebrate Love Parks Week, charity Your Park Bristol and Bath has launched a new scheme to boost the funds of local groups with ideas for their local park or green space.
Judy Gowenlock, Grants Officer and Charlee Bennett, Director, Your Park Bristol and Bath
Parks and open spaces have been a lifeline for many during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly for those without a garden at home.
Research by the Mental Health Foundation has shown that half of UK adults who experienced stress because of the pandemic said visiting green spaces, such as parks, helped them cope.
The Love Your Park Community Fund helps to recognise the importance of urban green space in helping communities to recover from the pandemic.
Your Park Bristol and Bath was previously known as the Bristol and Bath Parks Foundation.
The Love Your Park Community Fund aims to support smaller groups in Bristol and Bath with a grant towards a community focused project in their local park.
Groups from across the two cities are able to apply for a small grant between £500 and £1000.
The new fund is a way of supporting community action and volunteering in parks, helping people to experience shared activities in their local space.
The aim is to reach groups from diverse backgrounds, including those who do not regularly use their park and from inner city communities where many people lack any green space of their own.
Applications are open until Sunday 5 September at 8pm. Information on how to apply can be found on the charity’s website at www.yourpark.org.uk.
Charlee Bennett, Director, Bristol and Bath Parks Foundation said: “Parks and community groups have told us that a small amount of funding can make a real difference to bringing projects to life.
“Often groups don’t have the confidence in raising funds and we hope the Love Your Park Community Fund will be the key to unlocking opportunities.”
Your Park Bristol and Bath has been able to create the Love Your Park Community Fund through the generous support of local people and businesses.
