We are looking for new members of the Friends group! Would you like to support the wide range of work of the Ecology Park and help raise funds for this vital nature site for wildlife and people? Our theme this year is birds and we are fundraising to refurbish our bird hides, replace woven willow screening and support bird walks and children’s holiday activities. The Friends group is a registered charity with meetings held every 2 months and a Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and trustees elected each year at an AGM. See more detail below.
What does the Friends group do? These are our charitable objectives:
The group supports the management and maintenance of the park as a high-quality nature reserve and accessible open space. It is a registered charity (no. 1119415) and its aims are:
- To promote the preservation, restoration, maintenance and improvement of Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park for the benefit of the public in co-operation with its management and staff
- To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of London by associating the Local Authorities, Voluntary Organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure-time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants
- To advance the education of the public.
How does it work?
The Friends group raises funds to keep the friends group running, to support special projects in the park (such as an annual summer play project) and to buy equipment and materials. It raises funds by regular sales of second hand books on site and stalls at park events. The group also applies for grants for particular projects. We are always open to new ideas and contacts for the park to help us enhance and improve the park facilities. Friends group members also help out at park events and can comment and advise on the development of park facilities and activities at meetings.
Who can join?
Membership is open to anyone over 18 who supports the aims and objectives of the organisation. The Friends group works closely with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and abides by their policies and procedures on site, including Health and Safety and Safeguarding procedures.
When do they meet?
Meetings, to which all members are invited, are held about once every two months. Minutes are taken and recorded and made available to all members on request. The committee elects trustees and a Treasurer, Chair, Secretary and Executive Officer each year at its AGM in February. Accounts are kept by the Treasurer and submitted annually to an approved audit. Sometimes we have extra smaller meetings to help plan events and fundraising activities.
What have the group done already?
Past grants awarded to the Friends group have included:
- A Breathing Places grant of £8,100 for a project combining biodiversity enhancements, volunteering and a special event programme at the Park.
- A City Bridge Trust grant of £17,500 over 3 years for an environmental education and habitat enhancement programme over three years, including summer play projects and practical workdays for young people.
Money raised directly through the group’s own efforts has funded lots of art and play materials and many items of equipment including:
- a strong lightweight rowing boat to enable habitat management to be undertaken from the water
- a projector screen for talks in the Gatehouse
- a bicycle trailer
- good quality, secure, weatherproof wooden tool storage cabinets
- a nestbox camera
- wild bird food.
Do I need any skills to become a Friend?
No, just a keen interest in the park and its development as a high-quality urban nature site in the community. If you wanted to stand for Chair, Secretary or Treasurer at the AGM, you would need these skills/experience:
- Treasurer – relevant financial knowledge and ability to produce accounts
- Secretary – experience of minute taking, IT skills
- Chair – experience of chairing meetings, people skills
- Executive Officer – fundraising skills
But we also need people who can help out at events and with other fundraising activities, e.g.:
- Running a Friends stall at park events
- Baking cakes and running cake stalls at weekends or at park events
- Writing letters to local shops and businesses
- Making gifts to sell at park events
- Running the regular second-hand book stall ends group supports educational work, habitat management, volunteering and community involvement in the park
If you are interested in becoming a friend please contact gpep@tcv.org.uk for further information.