The Thriving in Nature Fund helps more people prosper by engaging with green spaces and the rural environment. The focus is on improving health and wellbeing, and nurturing work opportunities, by supporting charitable organisations to unite people with nature.
Oxfordshire is filled with stunning countryside, beautiful parks and rolling farmland. It is a wonderful asset, but the opportunities it offers are not necessarily reaching those most in need.
Access to natural spaces can be challenging for several reasons. Lack of transport to quality green spaces may be a challenge for families unable to afford a car, and not having knowledge of the Countryside Code can make accessing them intimidating. For some groups, including vulnerable women, younger people, disabled people and people from ethnic minorities, natural spaces may feel inaccessible, havens for antisocial behaviour or less enjoyable because they don’t feel familiar or secure. Having access to green spaces that are safe and visible helps nurture a feeling of accessibility for everyone.
Several of the most deprived areas in Oxfordshire match directly the areas where both obesity and mental health are the greatest challenges, and these areas tend to be in the urban parts of the county. Obesity means people are less likely to be in employment, and reduces life expectancy by an average of three years.
The natural environment is well documented as benefiting both mental and physical wellbeing. The positive effects of spending time in green spaces can range from reducing feelings of stress or anger, improving physical health, helping to become more active, reducing loneliness and improving confidence and self-esteem. Our countryside and green spaces are free to access – an affordable and sustainable way of improving wellbeing.
Our green spaces also provide an opportunity to promote rural skills, training and employment. Enabling people from disadvantaged communities to connect with these opportunities will help them to thrive, as well as contribute to addressing the workforce shortages.
Thanks to the support of a committed cohort of donors and funders, OCF’s first ever round of Thriving in Nature grants were paid in August 2024, with multi-year grants totalling £494k given to 12 small local charities. Some examples were:
- Long Mead Foundation, which received £59,612 over three years to scale up meadow restoration, community and landowner engagement, skills sharing and community support
- Oxford Community Action, which received £51,311 over three years to support people from minoritised backgrounds to access nature through guided hikes on a variety of terrains
- Cheney School Association, which received £9,000 over two years to transform inner courtyards of the school into lively green spaces, designed to encourage wildlife and wellbeing
- 21st Century Thame, which received £9,884 over two years to help women and girls to learn about and use regenerative agriculture.
Find out more about our first round of Thriving in Nature grants
OCF is strongly committed to the Thriving in Nature Fund, and is continuing to build a committed group of donors with a shared passion for this issue to come on board and support this fund.
We plan to launch a second round of funding at a similar level in 2025. Grants will be paid in summer 2025. We are now seeking contributions to our 2025 Thriving in Nature grants. With your help, we can improve the health and wellbeing of those most in need through the benefits of nature.
Please contact OCF’s Head of Development Kate Parrinder if you would like to be involved.