Funding Invitation from UK Government to Create 'Pocket Parks' Could See New Community Music Gardens in UK

Grant Funding is available for communities to create or improve Pocket parks! But hurry, the cut-off date for application is 5 pm on 31 December 2019.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is making available £1.35 million to create new pocket parks or renovate existing parks that have fallen into disrepair where it can be shown that physical changes could have a significant positive impact on the local community and address a specific local need.

This funding will help put communities and their partners in control of the management of green spaces of value to them, and contribute resources towards improving the condition of these spaces. The Pocket Parks scheme builds on the success of the 2018 Pocket Parks Plus Scheme which has delivered funding to 198 projects across England. The scheme provides support, through grants to community-led bodies working in partnership with their local authority, to create new pocket parks or bring existing green spaces up to a safe, usable and inviting standard.

Improved green spaces will have long-term benefits supporting people to improve their health and well-being, bringing communities together or tackling loneliness and isolation by providing an accessible local space. The objectives of the programme are to deliver, across all areas of England, new pocket parks and support renovation of parks that have fallen into disrepair providing spaces for the local community to use, either as a place to relax or for activities which will benefit the physical and mental health of local people.

Consider the added benefits that could be bought by the creation of an inclusive musical 'pocket park'. A space where people of all ages and abilities can come to create music together. Music does not suffer the frustrations of catering to the diverse group of people that we are likely to see in a modern community because music is non-verbal and does not differentiate or discriminate between age, culture or ability. We can give example after example of how communities have worked together to rejuvenate such areas by introducing multi-generational music gardens or music parks locally and the many benefits that have been bought about by the power of music. Our Case Studies page is full of such projects. Outdoor musical instruments can, therefore, be integral to the promotion of cross-cultural engagement and the fostering of positive community integration.

Application Forms and Guidance on how to apply can be found on the UK Government website here