The Nature for Health programme is provided and administered by People’s Health Trust.
People’s Health Trust is an independent charity investing in local communities to help create a society without health inequalities. It works closely with six Community Interest Companies raising money through The Health Lottery and distributing grants.
The objective of the funding is to bring about the following types of changes:
- Support for adults and young people (aged 11-18) who are experiencing mental health problems, socio-economic disadvantage, discrimination and marginalisation:
- to have greater access to natural spaces and nature-based activities;
- to be involved in the development and running of nature-based activities in their local area;
- to experience measurable positive changes to their mental health.
- Additional support for those who need it accessing other services, for example, advice or specialist mental health services.
- The learning gained through the delivery of funded activity is used to work with decision-makers locally to make changes that benefit local people’s access to nature.
For the purposes of this funding programme:
- Natural spaces can be in towns and cities, the countryside, or the coast, such as parks, community gardens, woodland, canals, lakes, rivers, beaches, and greened/reclaimed urban spaces.
- Nature-based activities can include creating, maintaining, accessing and using natural spaces.
Grants of between £20,000 and £40,000 are available.
The funded activity should last two years.
Match funding of at least 25% of the grant value is required.
Match funding can be with funding that is already secured or can be included in the budget for year two to allow time to fundraise. The second year of the Trust’s grant will be dependent on securing this match.
Applications will be accepted from incorporated organisations which have been set up for three months or unincorporated organisations/constituted organisations.
To be eligible, all applicants must:
- Have an annual income of less than £1 million.
- A clear track record and evidence of supporting access to natural spaces and/or providing mental health support, particularly for communities experiencing marginalisation and discrimination.
- Be able to describe their approach to equity, diversity and inclusion clearly and have a strong track record on this. This should go beyond inclusive practice, to consider how the funded activity will achieve equitable outcomes for all.
Funded activity must be based in the West Midlands – Birmingham, Black Country, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire
