Birmingham Open Spaces Forum
Charity 1170171
Overview
Summary
Birmingham Open Spaces Forum appears to function primarily as civic infrastructure for Birmingham’s open-space movement: strengthening the capacity of friends groups and interested individuals rather than directly managing places. Its role combines environmental advocacy with practical coordination, using information, funding advice, training and networking to help dispersed local stewardship efforts become more informed and connected. This suggests an organisation whose potential influence may extend beyond its own activities through the groups it supports.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Nechells
Confidence: high
BOSF explicitly identifies Nechells as one of three current areas for its Nature Engagement Officer's community activities. Its events listing also describes BOSF jointly delivering free Park Fun sessions in Nechells with Park Rangers and The Active Wellbeing Society.
- Birmingham Open Spaces Forum, BOSF Events (2026)
States that BOSF's Nature Engagement Officer runs free community nature activities across Nechells, Bordesley & Highgate and Balsall Heath. - Birmingham Open Spaces Forum, BOSF Events (2026)
Lists Park Fun sessions in Nechells delivered by Park Rangers, The Active Wellbeing Society and Birmingham Open Spaces Forum.
Bordesley and Highgate
Confidence: high
BOSF's current partnership and events pages expressly identify Bordesley & Highgate as an area where it is undertaking work to support the Birmingham City of Nature Alliance and delivering community nature engagement.
- Birmingham Open Spaces Forum, Our Partnerships
States that BOSF's work supporting the City of Nature Alliance is currently undertaken in Balsall Heath, Bordesley & Highgate and Nechells, promoting residents' access to nature-based activities and local green spaces. - Birmingham Open Spaces Forum, BOSF Events (2026)
Identifies Bordesley & Highgate as one of the three areas in which BOSF's Nature Engagement Officer runs free community nature activities.
Balsall Heath West
Confidence: low
BOSF explicitly reports current activity in Balsall Heath and lists family wellbeing walks meeting at Saheli Hub. The organisation describes the service area as Balsall Heath rather than defining its full ward extent.
- Birmingham Open Spaces Forum, BOSF Events (2026)
States that BOSF's Nature Engagement Officer runs free community nature activities in Balsall Heath and lists family wellbeing walks meeting at Saheli Hub. - Birmingham Open Spaces Forum, Our Partnerships
States that BOSF currently undertakes City of Nature Alliance support work in Balsall Heath, promoting opportunities for residents to access nature-based activities and local green spaces.
Remaining uncertainties
- The annual report identifies a registered office, but does not establish whether it is a regularly staffed operational base or service-delivery venue; it is therefore not recorded as an operational area.
- The published members directory demonstrates a network extending across many parts of Birmingham, but membership of a local Friends or community group is not, by itself, evidence that BOSF directly delivers services in every corresponding ward.
- BOSF describes current activity in the broader locality of Balsall Heath. The available evidence does not establish whether delivery currently extends across the full Balsall Heath West ward or into Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East.
- Specific locations for some citywide activities, including networking, training, seed funding support, communications and advocacy, are not comprehensively published.
Additional evidence needed
- A current project-delivery map or monitoring return showing all active BOSF projects, sessions and supported groups by ward.
- Confirmation from BOSF of whether the registered office is used as a regular operational workplace, event venue or public-facing service site.
- A current list of Nature Engagement sessions and their venues, particularly for the Balsall Heath and Bordesley & Highgate work.
- Current grant or partnership reporting for the Birmingham City of Nature Alliance and National Lottery-funded Nature Engagement work, showing delivery locations and responsibilities.
Areas of work
- Education/training
- Environment/conservation/heritage
- Recreation
Who they help
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Acts As An Umbrella Or Resource Body
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A capacity-builder for local stewardship
The organisation appears to work through friends groups and individuals, building their ability to care for, advocate for and improve open spaces rather than delivering a single site-based service itself.
Why it matters
This helps explain its likely leverage: its value may lie in enabling many local groups to act more effectively, making it an important connective layer in Birmingham’s environmental civic life.
Show evidence
“BOSF provides a support network for friends groups.”
Source:Organisation“BOSF offers funding advice, networking opportunities and training.”
Source:Organisation
It links conservation with social welfare
Its purpose appears to treat open spaces not only as environmental assets but also as shared recreational infrastructure that can improve everyday life across Birmingham.
Why it matters
This broad framing may position the organisation to connect environmental groups with health, recreation, neighbourhood and inclusion-focused organisations that share an interest in accessible public space.
Show evidence
“To promote the protection, conservation and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Birmingham.”
Source:Charity Commission“To promote and enhance the open spaces within the city of Birmingham as recreational facilities in the interest of social welfare.”
Source:Charity Commission
Knowledge-sharing may be its main operating mechanism
Regular information digests, shared experience and training suggest that the forum may reduce isolation between groups by circulating practical knowledge across the city.
Why it matters
If this is its distinctive contribution, the organisation could be especially valuable where local groups have uneven access to funding knowledge, skills or peer connections.
Show evidence
“BOSF offers opportunities for groups and individuals interested in open spaces to share knowledge and experience.”
Source:Organisation“This is in the form of regular information digests, funding advice, networking opportunities and training.”
Source:Organisation
- Which friends groups, neighbourhoods and types of open space the forum reaches.
- Whether its advocacy influences policy, funding decisions or management of specific sites.
- How far its support reaches communities not already represented by organised friends groups.
Remaining uncertainties
- A list or map of member and partner groups, including the open spaces and neighbourhoods they represent.
- Examples of recent campaigns, training outcomes, funding secured or changes achieved through the forum’s support.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
BOSF provides a support network for friends groups. BOSF also offer opportunities for groups & individuals interested in open spaces to share knowledge and experience. This is in the form of regular information digests, funding advice, networking opportunities and training.
Charity objects
A)TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN THE ENJOYMENT, UNDERSTANDING, APPLICATION AND CONSERVATION OF OPEN SPACES WITHIN THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM. B)TO PROMOTE THE PROTECTION, CONSERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF BIRMINGHAM. C)TO PROMOTE AND ENHANCE THE OPEN SPACES WITHIN THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM AS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE INTEREST OF SOCIAL WELFARE, TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE FOR THE INHABITANTS WITHOUT DISTINCTION OF POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS OR OTHER OPINIONS.