It’s Your Space is a CABE Space website to inspire local people to transform a community space including parks or gardens on their doorstep. It gives links to a variety of ideas, funding sources and advice, and gives many examples of local people who have already taken things into their own hands. It encourages people and organisations to sign up to the CABE Space Manifesto for Better Public Spaces and explains the essential ten ingredients that make a great public space.

For more inspiration and information visit www.itsyourspace.org.uk or telephone 0161 872 0901

The NRU is a section of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and aims to attack the core problems of deprived areas, like weak economies and poor schools. It focuses existing services and resources explicitly on deprived areas and gives local residents and community groups a central role in turning their neighbourhoods around. On the website you can order factsheets or publications and learn about sources of funding for regenerating parks and gardens like the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

For more information visit www.neighbourhood.gov.uk or telephone the helpline 08450 828383

CABE Space is the national champion for parks and public spaces. CABE Space is publicly funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and aims to bring excellence to the design, management and maintenance of parks and gardens in our towns and cities. Its aim is to ensure that every person in England has easy access to well designed and well looked after public space. It works with local authorities and other bodies responsible for public space to help them provide a better service. Through its work it encourages local councils to think holistically about their green space, and what it means for residents’ health and well being, routes to school and work, and recreation through play and sport. CABE Space campaigns, conducts research, produces good practice guidance for practitioners and is responsible for expanding the Green Flag Award schemes.

To order or view publications visit www.cabespace.org.uk. For enquiries telephone 020 7960 2400

Groundwork is a federation of nearly fifty trusts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, each working with their partners to improve the quality of the local environment, the lives of local people and the success of local businesses in areas in need of investment and support. It is part funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and also receives corporate, local and European funding. Every year Groundwork Trusts deliver thousands of projects in neighbourhoods that are blighted by a variety of social or economic problems. These projects aim to create opportunities for people to learn new skills and to take local action. They also aim to help businesses and individuals fulfil their potential. There are many opportunities for volunteers in Groundwork Trusts or they may be able to support a local project including regenerating parks and gardens.

For more information visit www.groundwork.org.uk or telephone 0121 236 8565

Barclays Sitesavers is a partnership between Barclays Bank, Groundwork,the Wildlife Trusts and BTCV. This programme helps people to get more involved in making decisions about where they live, and to understand the benefits sustainable development can bring. SiteSavers can help people improve the appearance of their parks and encourage them to adopt healthier lifestyles. Successful projects help communities to get to know their neighbours and can reduce actual crime and the fear of crime.

For more information on SiteSavers, or to get help and support through the scheme visit the website www.barclays-sitesavers.org.uk or contact Groundwork by telephoning 0121 236 8586

This partnership programme involving 12 community forests, the Countryside Agency, the Forestry Commission, local authorities and many more, is helping to change urban landscapes for local people to visit and enjoy. The scheme not only introduces trees, woodland areas and green spaces to make areas more attractive but empowers communities to make decisions about improving where they live. The Community Forest Partnership creates high quality environments by altering the use of an area, revitalising derelict land and providing new opportunities for leisure, recreation, cultural activity, education, healthy living and social and economic development.

For more information about the programme contact the secretariat on 01684 311880 or visit www.communityforest.org.uk to access case studies on current projects.