Why Volunteer With FoSGP?
If you would like to volunteer with the Friends of St George's Park there are many different roles we take on over the year, one of them could be just what you are looking for. There are many benefits associated with volunteering including the way it can enhance your chances in the job market. According to a survey by Reed Employment of UK leading employers 73%* said they'd employ someone who's volunteered over someone who hasn't. Obviously one of the main reasons people volunteer is to make a difference in their community and this is why FoSGP work hard to improve and develop our own 4.5 acre urban green space, a town centre oasis of greenery on the Kidderminster inner ring road. Making St George's Park a sustainable public asset is what motivates us but there are a lot of health pay offs both from volunteering and being in parks like St George's. Volunteering with FoSGP means you will meet new people also committed to making the best of our park and you can find a role that fits your own skills and interests.
Roles
Community Gardening
Let's Eat the Park (LEAP) work parties meet most Saturday mornings (see website and social media) from 10am until usually around 1pm at the shelter in St George's Park. We carry out planting and tending of the many edibles we grow in the park including the raised the beds, fruit trees, chutney hedge, three sisters garden and other designated LEAP sites. More generally work parties help maintain the park in good order in collaboration with our partner Wyre Forest District Council including the upkeep of the rockery, stone circles, labyrinth, play area, paddling pool area, BMX and other sports areas, the wildflower meadow and tennis court, as well as litter picking. This involves a variety of tasks according to volunteer's abilities and interests. If you would like to volunteer with us please contact us via the contact form on the website, by email, social media or just turn up at 10 am on Saturday mornings and say hello. You can't miss us we will be wearing LEAP hi-viz vests as seen in the picture above. Tools, gloves, refreshments and good company all provided along with outdoor activity, wellbeing and the pleasure we take from making a difference, as well as a sense of achievement that you are involved in a prized local initiative.
Please come along and see - all welcome!
Event Planning and Organisation
FoSGP put on three free community events a year which we plan and organise as a resident led community group. We have to raise funds for these free events which include in April the award winning St George's Day Family Fun and Discovery Day; the August KidFest event in the park in collaboration with Kidderminster Arts Festival; and in December Carols in the Park in collaboration with St George's Church, Radford Avenue. If you are interested in planning and arranging free community events we would welcome your input. Roles include identifying and booking appropriate attractions, stewarding, publicity and marketing, putting up marquees and contributing to site safety and maintenance.
All FoSGP community events are free entry, some participants may charge for goods or services but all main attractions are FREE.
Wildlife Monitoring
We have a well established nest box project monitored by our wildlife officer, we would welcome volunteers to develop the wildlife corridor further and would love to hear from anyone interested in this area.
What Next?
As you will see there is a wide range of opportunities to volunteer in one or more FoSGP project. We usually meet on the first Friday of the month at 7pm at the Youth House in Bromsgrove Street, Kidderminster town centre, enter from the Lion Street entrance. New participants sharing the aims of FoSGP (please see our constitution 1. below) and LEAP Mission Statement welcome. There really is something for almost everyone who wants to get involved in a long list of successful projects that the Friends have arranged since 2008 in collaboration with a variety of past and present partners. We welcome you to a winning team!
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http://leapstgeorges.blogspot.co.uk/p/leap-mission-statement.html