The group were nominated by Jamie Henderson for encompassing the values of unity and commitment and for their unwavering support of the Go Play! programme.

Jamie said,

“The Friends of Norris Green Park (FoNGP) are a fantastic partner for our Go Play! programme. They provide us with support on our weekly sessions by promoting the sessions on their page and giving out leaflets in their hub. They also open up the park for us for our Spring, Summer, Halloween and Winter walks and again provide great support at these events. They are a team of volunteers who work tirelessly to keep the park a space for all to enjoy and we have had a large number of people come to our events and comment on how great the park is and that they will be returning in their own time.'

'To have a partner like FoNGP is really valuable to our Go Play! programme as it allows us to put on mass participation events to really showcase what the programme does and the wider Foundation.'

'The FoNGP have allowed us to make a great impact in the Norris Green community and our participants and their families know of what a great space they have on their doorstep.'

Helen Ball, Volunteer (Friends of Norris Green Park) said,'We are delighted and humbled to be nominated for Champion of the Month. The work that LFC Foundation has been doing with the FoNGP volunteer group over the last five years has really helped to bring the park back to life, by encouraging families to enjoy the space and get active together.'

'FoNGP aim to make the park cleaner, greener and safer for all the community and LFC Foundation is a key partner in that ongoing ambition. We look forward to continuing and expanding our work together. Thank you for our award!'

Information around Norris Green and the LFC Foundation Go Play! Programme

Norris Green Friends of Park group have been involved with the LFC Foundation’s Go Play! Programme originally called Open Goals since its inception in 2018. Being a founding park when the free fun fully inclusive family programme originally started, we have seen a number of parks over the years that have swapped and changed, however Norris Green Park has continued to support us.

Norris Green Park group was formed in 2017 with the aim to reclaim the park and support the development of the grade 2 listed building 'The Old Stables.' Starting out in the park with just a container, the park group have now developed into a fully functioning community hub site ran solely by volunteers. The park has worked with LFC Foundation networks such as Field and Trust to access research on the importance of park usage. This came into great help when the Liverpool City Council went ahead with securing the safety of green spaces not to be built on in 2021.

The park has grown into a beautiful community site featuring a playground, walled garden, bee hives, a small wildlife pond, a football pitch, a Kiosk to sell tea and coffee out of and is totally blooming all round.

The Norris Green community lead by the work of the Norris Green Park Group have reclaimed the park making it a attractive and welcoming place for for all the family no matter what generation you are and is fully inclusive for all walks of the community.

Working as Community Partners and linking in wider groups such as Colbalt Housing Association, Bulky Bobs, Bee Keeping, Forestry school initiatives and national programme initiatives such as 'This Girl Can' in partnership with the Liverpool City Council along with Active Through football programme funded by Sport England, the park has been utilised more and more.

We have ran our annual Spooky Sensory Halloween Walk in NGP for the last 7 years having started with just 300 participants it has now grown to 1200 per event.

We now run from the park four major events

• Spooky Sensory Halloween Walk
• Winter Wonderland Walk
• Spring Flower Festival Walk
• Big Red Summer Family Festival.

Each inviting 1200 via Eventbrite to enjoy the park making a total of 4800 young people and their families into the park annually for events. Alongside the events we run in the park Norris Green Park also host our weekly Go Play! Session on a Saturday.

The Norris Green FOP Group actively promote and share all the Go Play! Initiative across their social media pages and support with any questions on the page to keep young people and their families up to date with what’s happening all year round.

Quote from Dawn Georgeson – LFC Foundation Programme Manager

'Without key community partners such as Norris Green Friends of Park Group, we wouldn’t be able to support the community in the way we do. They are a force to be reckoned with.'

'Led by volunteers they are community champions who don’t give up ensuring the community they work in is supported and has a beautiful park to access all year around. Go Play! Wouldn’t be the programme it is today without the ongoing support of the group, and I would like to thank them for their continued support.'