Supporting Local Environmental Groups   REN's first priority is to provide support for environmental and sustainability organisations/groups operating with the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (pls see the bottom of the page for non Richmond upon Thames groups). We support groups to achieve their goals and develop their resources (in terms of developing skills & knowledge, funding, legal & policy advice, sharing good practice and governance & advocacy via representation to statutory bodies). All of these services are provided free of charge.

Pages within the Environmental Groups section of the website Learning (handbooks, how-to guides & training courses) If your looking to start a local group or activity this page can provide the information you will need to set up and constitute a group, how to operate within the law with information on legal and policy and information on course providers so that members of local groups can increase their knowledge. Funding Up to-date information on grants available from trust funds, the Lottery and Government sources for your groups' activities. Environmental Groups' Forum The Forum seeks to share good practice between environmental, sustainability, civic amenity and wildlife groups as well as providing a networking opportunity and direct communication between the groups, Richmond Environment Network and the council. Advocacy As advocate of the local environmental third sector (voluntary sector, charities, social enterprises) we disseminate minutes/notes of meetings attended by the team of Richmond Environment Network and the agendas of any forth coming meetings that might be of interest to local groups. Afiliation Scheme Our afiliation the scheme unables us to work closer with and respond to the needs of local groups so that we can be a better umbrella body, representing local groups interests, involve you in consultations and be a stronger voice. Community Resource Library Our Community Resource Library contains items that can be borrowed by community environmental groups within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

We can help you with:

• Assistance with the formation of new environmental and or friends of parks groups in the borough
• Assistance if your established group needs a helping hand
• Your group being listed in our Groups Database to publicise your group and work*
• Web page/s hosted for local environmental groups free of charge on our site*
• Help and assitance for group to develop their own websites free of charge (where we can also help manage the site)
• Listings of environmental activities and events on our Events Calendar to recruit interest and potential volunteers*
• Listings of local groups environmental activities and events in the local press to recruit interest and potential volunteers
• We provide a telephone information and referral service for groups and for people intersted in volunteering with the groups
• We attendance at local fairs to promote participation in environmental activities on behalf of local groups
• Our Environmental Groups' Forum (previously called the Open Spaces Forum) for local groups to enable effective communication and sharing of good practice between the groups, REN and the council
• Dissemination of training and funding information and advice for local groups
• Support for groups with funding applications
• Our Resource Library contains items that can be borrowed by the groups, such as a laptop, projector, marquee and hand tools.
• Signposting to other sources of information
• Assistance for local environmental groups for their workdays/activities by fully trained leaders whom are First Aid at Work certified
• Promotion of and support in working towards the Guidelines for Volunteers and Voluntary Groups working in the Environment, covering health and safety, insurance, first aid and risk assessment and other good practice guidance for groups carrying out volunteer workdays
• Links to local schools and youth groups and developing young person led activities
• Links to our schools officer, who supports local schools to develop environmental projects/programmes/clubs and share good practice between schools through our Schools Environmental Forum and network with local environmental practitioners/educators who want to link with local schools
• Our Zero Waste Initiative (ZWIN) project carries out environmental audits of buildings for schools & voluntary and community groups. 
• Representation of the environmental voluntary and community sector to the Green Richmond Partnership and the Voluntary Sector Strategic Partnership (both sub groups of the Richmond Local Strategic Partnership) and London Green Space Friends Groups Network.
• Our Environmental Forum provides an opportunity for residents to engage into local environmental debate, whilst also offering an opportunity for local groups to work with us to put on each Forum. Local groups also have the opportunity to put displays/tables at the Forums

*in 2008 our website received 95,159 visits with these visitors going on to view 185,743 pages. in 2009 our website received 98,761 visits with these visitors viewing 147,148 pages

~ this service is only available when there is somebody in our office to take calls.

Outside of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames?

If you are looking for support with your environmental projects outside of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames we suggest in the first instance you contact these three organisations: