Groundsweek

Grounds Management Association announces the first ever #GroundsWeek

Inaugural celebration week to be launched 1 -7 March 2021

Grounds Management Association (GMA), the leading not-for-profit membership body for grounds professionals and volunteers, announces the launch of #GroundsWeek. 

The inaugural celebration week will take place March (1-7 March 2021) and will celebrate and highlight the vital role of professional grounds staff, volunteers, and the turf sector play in making sport possible. 

Following a difficult year for the sector, due to the impact of Covid-19, the GMA aims to showcase grounds staff and the amazing work that they do – and have continued to do – despite sport coming to a grinding halt. It also comes after a year where parks and green spaces have been valuable to the public’s health – with increased use for ‘daily exercise’ and physical activity. 

Grounds management continues to be challenging beyond 2020 due to limited resources and budgets, coupled with more varied and unpredictable weather conditions that makes planning tasks more difficult. 

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA, said: “We know that the skill involved is often misunderstood. We want to inspire sports fans and the general public to celebrate alongside us and get even more people to enter the profession and lend a helping hand at pitches across the country. 

“Without the vital work that grounds staff do, many sports would face cancellations and potentially closure. This is a chance to recognise all the hard work that goes into making sport possible and keeping green spaces accessible.”

The GMA’s campaign will encourage individuals and organisations across the industry, whether they have a career in grounds management or volunteer for an hour a week, to get involved both on the pitch and on social media.

 

Activity taking place during #GroundsWeek

The Grounds Management Association is calling on professionals, volunteers and businesses in the turf care sector to get involved – more details on this below.

During #GroundsWeek, we’ll also be promoting content to help get more volunteers involved at community levels, as well as recommended grounds maintenance tasks from our specialist Regional Pitch Advisers. This includes:

  • How to celebrate grounds management and attract the next generation of grounds management managers, volunteers and everything in between
  • How grassroots grounds volunteers and staff can maintain pitches to best effect during this upcoming season
  • How professional grounds staff can ensure that they are on top of their game

 

How can you get involved?

There are many ways to get involved in #GroundsWeek this year.

You can share our top tips on social media so that more people hear about the fantastic work of our industry tagging #GroundsWeek to help spread the word. If turf care is completely new to you, or you want to learn more, you can join other likeminded people in our free webinar. You can also share personal photos or videos and participate in the social media activity we have planned for the week, just make sure to use the #GroundsWeek hashtag when posting.

For individuals, organizations, or clubs who want to get involved and support the turf care sector, a‘#GroundsWeek Toolkit’ will be shared which will include graphics you can use, social posts you can share and fun ways you and your organization can get involved.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SOCIAL MEDIA POST TEMPLATES TO SUPPORT #GROUNDSWEEK

For more information about the GMA and the important work they do within grounds maintenance, click here.

The Grounds Management Association will also be running a unique webinar, GMA Live - #GroundsWeek Volunteer Special. The webinar will shine a spotlight on the heart and soul of the industry - the volunteer grounds people who are the foundation of sport and physical activity.The session will discuss the impact of COVID19 on amateur recreational sport, plus the wider support that is still available, as well as hints and tips on what you can do on a budget, even a reduced one. We will also offer some top suggestions on how to attract volunteers to your club, how to inspire, train and motivate them during these difficult times. 

Click here to book onto the webinar.