Agenda item

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

Members received a report of the Director of Open Spaces regarding the three-year review of the Open Spaces Department’s ‘Green Spaces, Learning Places’ programme. The following matters were raised:

·         Members noted the success of the programme and wished to congratulate formally all the staff and volunteers who were involved in its implementation. Members felt that the impact had been significant, particularly to those harder to reach children, including those in receipt of free school meals.

·         Members were in support of the five impact areas (Understanding, Confidence, Nature connection, Wellbeing, Involvement) and felt the programme provided significant value to the educational offering of the City of London Corporation. It was highlighted that the programme also supported the Corporation’s mental health agenda. In light of the uncertainty posed by the Fundamental Review, the Chairman suggested that the Board would probably support any application to protect funding should such support be needed but requested that the Education Board continue to be kept up to date on its impact and development.

·         In response to a query, Members were informed that the Green Spaces, Learning Places team had developed a bespoke impact assessment toolkit with the help of Derby University. The toolkit was used to measure behavioural indicators of children who could benefit most from the programmes. This involved, amongst other things, tracking continued interest in nature and recording responses to specially selected questions asked before and after their participation.

·         Members discussed whether the programme could feed into the Sports Strategy. Whilst it was acknowledged that Open Spaces would likely play a significant role in the Corporation’s Sports Strategy, it was agreed that a sports initiative would not fall naturally into the current programme, which was focussed on introducing young people to nature.

·         Members discussed more broadly the various activities of the Family of Schools in relation to outside spaces. Members were informed of involvement with the Forest Schools Network, which led to some schools developing vegetable patches and introducing animals to school life. Schools could also use the Culture Mile School Visits Fund delivered by Culture Mile Learning to support with the costs associated with visits to Open Spaces. Open Spaces would also be invited to future Culture Forums.  Whilst it was noted that there was more success in encouraging interest in nature at primary schools than in secondary schools, it was suggested that secondary school aged pupils may be interested in opportunities for volunteering.

·         Concern was raised over the allocation of staff at Epping Forest that led to lone working. Members noted the steps taken by the Open Spaces Department to revise rotas in order to address the problem.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.