How do I?

How do I...?

Report a problem
The Friends of parks and green spaces are the Council's eyes and ears. As much as the Council would love to have the time to regularly visit each and every site, with 160+ parks and green spaces in the borough, it's just not possible, so help is needed. If there is a problem such as fly-tipping, abandoned vehicles, removal of graffiti etc, please report it using the Bromley Council website.

Fix My Street
Fix My Street is an alternative online reporting service when the problem/issue is not directly related to your park or green space but you still wish to inform the Council that action is required. It operates by the use of a post-code or street name and allows the user to enter as much detail about the issue that he/she wishes, including supportive photographic evidence. For further information click here.

Develop a project in a Park or Green Space
If your group has a project in mind, however big or small, idverde would love to hear about it. Support is available to help Groups develop their project, including securing any permissions or funds required, through to overseeing delivery on site. For more information about next steps, click here.

Apply for a Small Forum Grant
The Friends Forum offers grants of 75% up to a maximum of £500 for small Community items such as benches, finger posts, signage & interpretation boards. Groups can also use the grant towards the cost of bespoke clothing or specialist tools such as a tree popper. Full details of this policy can be found here. Applicants should complete the grant application form and email it to [email protected]. The Forum Committee will then appraise the application at its next meeting and provided there is a majority in favour the application will be approved. Please note grants will not be offered for simple hand held tools or basic PPE, which should be sourced from either the parks management service provider or from the Group's own funds.

Evaluate the Health & Safety of Volunteers
The work of voluntary organisations and individual volunteers makes a valuable contribution to our everyday lives. Health and safety is often wrongly blamed for preventing organisations from running events and people from volunteering. Health and safety law is not a barrier to volunteering activities. Taking a sensible, proportionate approach is the key to making sure things go smoothly and safely and avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy. For more information click here.

Write a risk assessment
Planning for an event or activity will involve undertaking a risk assessment. The reason we do a risk assessment is to minimise the risk of injury to ourselves and others. Although it may seem a little daunting, you actually assess risk all the time in everyday life, often without realising. For more information click here.

Get assistance with my printing requirements
Friends Groups can use library services to get free photocopying, provided they hold a valid parks id badge and their requirement is for relatively low volume work. For large quantities of photocopying or more detailed formal printing Friends Groups should ask their idverde Community Manager, who should be able to help. For more detailed information click here.

Host an event
To host an event in a park or green space you will need to book the venue and complete a variety of forms. Provided your event involves no more than 500 people at any one time and is organised by a Friends Group there is no chargeable fee. For larger more complicated events a fee may be chargeable, as too the obtaining of extra public liability insurance, where items are not covered by the standard Friends insurance policy. If your event involves live music and/or the selling of alcohol you will need obtain the appropriate licence (which itself will be chargeable). In all cases you will need to complete a set of risk assessments, obtain any necessary certificates (e.g food hygiene, third party liability cover) and agree to the terms & conditions for organisers. For ease of process this can now be all completed online via idverde's interactive application. For further guidance and notes on organising an event click here.

Hire the Community Minibus
Give2Give in partnership with Bromley Council’s Transport Team have launched an innovative community minibus scheme. A 15 seater minibus is available to book free of charge for all year round use by Bromley community groups and charities. Priority is given to groups who would benefit from free transport on an occasional basis for day trips, evenings and weekends. It may also be possible to book the minibus for longer periods of up to one week depending on demand from other users. For further information click here.

Tell the press
Good Public Relations (PR) is just as essential for charities, voluntary and community groups as it is for commercial businesses. Get it right and your fundraising event will be a roaring success, your campaigns will attract committed supporters and you will secure a distinctive profile within your sector. Here is a guide to contacting the press.

Deal with litter
For a quick fix, report the problem to the Ranger Service on or even better, organise your own clear up. Speak to your Parks Partnership Officer for more information. If you're looking for something more long-term, you can get involved by going online and joining a local litter group. You could also join the Litter Action community which is an online resource that supports people who take local action on litter - helping individuals and local groups organise clean-up drives and awareness raising activities in their local area. Alternatively join the Keep Britain Tidy campaign, who are working together for cleaner, greener places.

Compost green waste
Doing your bit for the environment couldn't be easier. Did you know you could compost much of your kitchen and garden waste? To find out how click here.

How do I...?

Useful Documents

Online Resources

Training