The Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Parks Partnership is a legacy of the Future Parks Programme where selected areas across the country received funding to help to protect and develop natural resources, and make sure quality green space are accessible for everyone, now and into the future. Cambridgeshire’s focus for future Parks Programme was to activate and animate parks by recognising the benefits that parks bring to communities’ health and wellbeing, restoring nature, strengthening communities through volunteering and tackling climate change.

The Vision for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Parks Partnership is a joined-up and sustainable future for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s parks and public open space. The mission of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Parks Partnership (CP3) will be to realise the benefits of parks and green spaces for local communities and the environment by activating and animating these spaces. To achieve “Healthier Parks, Healthier Planet, Healthier People”

Some early consultation was carried out with a group of people who are volunteers, members of parks ‘friend of’ groups and other organisations with an interest in volunteering in parks. The feedback established the need for volunteer networking opportunities.

The Open Spaces Forum is a Cambridgeshire and Peterborough forum that connects volunteers, friends of groups, charities and parish councils with a shared interest in working together to develop, manage and maintain parks and open spaces. Meetings enable communication, and information sharing and news relating to parks and open spaces, volunteering, opportunities for collaboration, funding, local and national updates. Meetings may identify areas of common interest and need, and will provide learning opportunities, sharing good practice, mentoring and networking between groups.

The Open Space Forum is a Support Cambridgeshire are working in partnership with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Parks Partnership to facilitate and promote the Open Space Forum. Support

Support Cambridgeshire helps community groups and organisations to strengthen and grow, providing a range of advice, training and support. Part of this package of support that is offered are networking opportunities for example health and wellbeing, managing volunteers and fundraising.  Support Cambridgeshire have a wealth of experience, expertise and contacts and are a valuable partner in helping the Strategic Parks and Green Spaces Partnership achieve its aspirations around community resilience through promoting and supporting volunteering in parks and green spaces.

The next Zoom-hosted Open Space Forum is on the 1^st of December 2022  

This meeting will introduce Peterborough & Cambridgeshire Parks Partnership and Support Cambridgeshire. Discussion around volunteering recruitment experiences, challenges and sharing ideas.

To find out more or book a place follow this link https://OpenSpacesDecember.eventbrite.co.uk or  to sign up to our newsletter email StrategicParks@Cambridgeshire.gov.uk

To access the Open Space Forum Webpages follow https://cambsfutureparks.org.uk/community/