BTCV Handbooks Online

Book:	Local Action
Chapter:	Getting Started
Section:	Before you start
Metadata:	Details	Buy this book

Whether you are trying to set up a new group to look after some local greenspace, or persuade the local community association it would like to take on an environmental project, check first,

Is a new group needed?

Even if you don't know about it,� a group� might already exist. It may be small, in which case your time and energy could be used in helping that group. If there is an environmental group relatively nearby, you could discuss whether members want to work in your area, and perhaps extend their operations, or whether they could support and help you to set up a new group to work alongside them. To find out who is doing what in your area, contact your nearest BTCV office, or try the local library, Local Authority, volunteer bureau or any local environmental group.

Do I really want to do this?

Getting a voluntary group of any sort going requires time, energy and commitment. If you start a group, people will probably look to you to take it forward for at least the first year, possibly two. It is likely to take up some evenings each month as well as time spent doing conservation work, often at weekends. If you can't make that kind of commitment because of work, family or other reasons, then the best way forward may be to join an existing group.

Where can I go for help?

Setting up a group is straightforward, but even with support from BTCV there is plenty of work to be done.

Finding just two or three people to help - perhaps your family, friends or other people you meet on the site - can make life a lot easier.

Whatever you plan to do, it is essential to co-operate with other groups in your area. They may be able to help you in getting a new group going. They may have good contacts and be able to advise you on local sources of support to help you set a group up.

� Members of local organisations such as residents' associations, parent-teacher associations, or perhaps your local Neighbourhood Watch group may help you make a start. They will certainly know the key people to speak to, perhaps enthusiastic local councillors.

A local Neighbourhood Watch group in Leicester has developed into an effective conservation group with help from a local environmental organisation. Concerned about improving their environment as well as cutting crime, they set up a recycling scheme and followed that with a street tree-planting scheme. They share responsibility for the trees with the local council. They are now asking members of the local community to sign a pledge to drive slowly through their area and they have also set up a gardening club and a baby-sitting circle.

If you have a local BTCV office they may be able to give you advice and put you in touch with other groups in your area who are members of BTCV and who may also be able to help you.

In many cases you will find that there is a local umbrella organisation like a Volunteer Action that can help volunteer groups get started.

Some large organisations like councils may even make a small donation to help you get started. It is important to make sure that you have a clear relationship with any such parent body. The answer is probably a close relationship and a good understanding, but not a total dependence.

When making an agreement with a parent body, it's important to:

Clarify any financial support you will receive. This is likely to be some grant aid on an occasional basis, or works 'in kind' to undertake some operations on the site.
Agree how much control you will have over the work that is needed and how your group should be represented in the production of management plans and other decision making.

Some organisations will want a written agreement with your group and will set certain conditions, others will be happy with an informal agreement. It will depend on the size of the site, the scale of the work you want to undertake and potential risk for the landowner or partner.

Sit down with the people who are going to help and agree what you want to do. Look through the guidelines in this book and work out who is going to do what. This core group will help get the ball rolling, and once the group has been launched, these people should encourage others to take on areas of responsibility and spread the load.