ABOUT THE NORTHERN NETWORK
The Northern Network
The Northern Network is a radical new movement powered by Groundwork that connects green community spaces across the North of England.
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 positive action on the environment.
To power a vibrant new movement across the North, this new network connects communities, places, and projects, and provides learning exchanges, peer support, training, toolkits, and more.
As a result, we’re helping to create 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.


Our Mission
Bringing people together to build healthy and happy communities that have the agency and power to make positive, sustainable change.
Bringing people together…
The Northern network connects those people and communities that are involved in the grassroots development and delivery of green community hubs across the North of England.
Through the simple act of coming-together, and by the sharing of collective knowledge, skills, and experience, The Northern Network is inspiring a flourishing new movement of community leadership and organic regeneration, for the benefit of all.
Objectives:
- Build a network of people involved in green hubs across the North
- Create and deliver a leadership development programme
- Create a bank of resources, case studies and reports that support the work of green hubs
- Deliver a programme of skills-sharing events, training, and networking sessions
…to build healthy and happy communities….
We recognize and understand the intrinsic benefits that nature and green spaces have on personal health and wellbeing. Green community hubs open up more access to nature, breathe new life into unloved spaces, help tackle loneliness, improve physical and mental health, and build connections between people, nature, and communities.
The Northern Network is nurturing the growth of new green community hubs, in turn anchoring a root network of hubs across the North of England, all inspiring healthier and happier people and communities.
- Build stronger connections between green hubs and public health services for the improved facilitation of social prescribing
- Build an evidence base for improved health and wellbeing in relation to green hubs
- Create and share resources and activities for green hubs and their communities that improve health and happiness
...That have the power to make positive change.
The Northern Network is equipping its communities with the skills and confidence needed to improve their personal prospects, to gain a greater sense of personal and collective agency, and to become change-makers themselves.
Green community hubs deliver credible, hopeful, and impactful counter-action to the climate emergency. From the building of local food systems, to creating nature-based solutions, growing resilience to climate events, and improving biodiversity, thriving hubs and their diverse communities can make a positive impact on the world around them.
Objectives:
- Map the climate impact of green hubs across the North
- Evidence the power of green hubs to take action on the climate emergency
- Educate, inspire and empower communities to confidently take their own small steps to sustainability
- Build community and climate resilience
GET INVOLVED
Help us grow The Northern Network, there are lots of ways to get involved…