TRANSFORMATIONAL
Shared green spaces such as community farms, parks, fields, and allotments can all help to create thriving and resilient communities. They have the potential to bring people together, enhance prospects, improve health and wellbeing, and take action on the environment.
To power a vibrant new movement of Green Hubs across the North, our network is connecting communities, places, and projects, providing learning exchanges, peer support, training, and more.
As a result, we’ll help build a future where every neighbourhood is vibrant and green, every community is strong and able to shape its own destiny, and no-one is held back by their background or circumstances.
CHANGE-MAKING
The Northern Network is powered by communities and supported by Groundwork . This project is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Groundwork has a strong background in creating and managing green community hubs, from Grow Speke in Liverpool, to The Grange in Blackpool to GroZone in Northwich. This experience allowed us to secure funding for the Northern Network pilot project, which ran from Autumn 2022 until Spring 2024. As a part of the project, we created 5 brand new green community hubs, held over 700 events with close to 11,000 local residents in attendance.
We’re now in phase 2 of the project:, scaling up to create a total of 30 new hubs from 2024 until 2026, connecting even more people with nature and their communities.
Our team of Green Hub Facilitators, located across the North of England and working under different Groundwork Trusts, are now creating and revitalising green projects in communities that need it most.
CHANGE-MAKING
Groundwork in the North is developing and supporting an open network of people and projects, all aspiring to grow greener communities.
Each of the hubs we co-create share their learning through our network, which is open to all who wish to join. We share their stories to inspire people to take action in their own communities.
All our green community hubs are co-designed by the communities they serve, led by and for local people, to address specific needs. Whether it’s a gap in local services, concerns about the climate emergency or providing a safe space for young people, green community hubs are one solution to many problems.
Join THe Network
The Northern Network is open to anyone involved in the creation and running of green community spaces across the North of England.
It’s completely free to join and membership gives access to a wealth of shared resources, networking opportunities, events, training, and more!