Surrey Green Health &
Wellbeing Programme
A partnership between Community Foundation for Surrey and Surrey County Council that will strengthen nature-based health and wellbeing services across Surrey.
Supporting healthier communities through nature
Green Health is the use of natural green and blue spaces to improve physical, mental and social wellbeing through meaningful engagement with nature, whether individually or as part of a group.
The Surrey Green Health & Wellbeing Programme combines a dedicated Green Health & Wellbeing Grant Fund with a countywide Community of Practice, helping voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations build their capacity, share expertise and improve access to green health opportunities for local communities.
Together, these elements will help more Surrey residents to benefit from nature-based health and wellbeing activities while supporting the organisations that deliver them.
About the Grant Fund
Community Foundation for Surrey will manage the Green Health & Wellbeing Grant Fund on behalf of Surrey County Council.
The Fund will support eligible VCSE organisations that use green and blue spaces to improve people’s physical, mental and social wellbeing.
We believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience the health and wellbeing benefits of connecting with nature. The Fund will support organisations offering accessible and inclusive Green Health activity that responds to identified needs and opportunities in Surrey and is informed by an understanding of the people and communities involved.
Importantly, the Fund is designed to support the organisations and infrastructure that make that work possible. Funding will support existing provision and core costs, as well as development activity that helps strengthen the sustainability and resilience of Green Health provision.
Key priorities
We are particularly interested in supporting organisations that:
use green or blue spaces to improve physical, mental and/or social wellbeing;
respond to an identified need or opportunity in Surrey and demonstrate an understanding of the people and communities involved;
take reasonable steps to make Green Health activities accessible and inclusive, including physical accessibility, transport, confidence, cultural relevance, perceptions of safety or experiences of discrimination.
This funding will prioritise applications that:
strengthen, sustain or develop effective existing Green Health provision;
build organisational capacity and resilience;
improve organisations’ ability to understand and demonstrate the impact of their work; or
strengthen the longer-term sustainability of the provision or organisation.
We do not expect every application to address all of these areas equally. We recognise the diversity of Green Health provision and want to support different approaches.
Alongside financial support, funded organisations will have opportunities to connect with peers, exchange learning and contribute to the growing evidence base for Green Health in Surrey through the Green Health Community of Practice.
What funding is available?
Organisations can apply for a two-year grant of up to £10,000 per year, with a maximum award of £20,000 per organisation. Smaller applications are welcome and will not be disadvantaged. We particularly want to provide organisations with greater stability and the opportunity to plan beyond a single year. Funding for the second year will be subject to satisfactory progress and continued charitable delivery.
Funding is flexible and can support core costs, existing delivery, expansion of successful provision and organisational development. It does not need to be for a new project. We will prioritise applications that strengthen provision for the future.
What we will fund
We want to be flexible about how organisations use the funding. We are particularly interested in supporting good existing activity and the infrastructure that makes it possible. Applications may include:
organisational development that will make Green Health provision more resilient and/or sustainable;
delivery of existing Green Health activities;
core and running costs associated with Green Health provision;
full cost recovery;
staff and sessional delivery costs, including workforce capacity, supervision or development of a more sustainable staffing model;
activity that improves the accessibility or inclusivity of Green Health provision;
transport or other costs that help people overcome barriers to participation;
work to strengthen referral pathways, including relationships with health, social care and social prescribing;
impact measurement, evaluation tools and evidence gathering that strengthen the evidence base for Green Health provision;
developing partnerships and collaborations;
business planning, income diversification and fundraising capacity;
activities, equipment and materials needed to deliver the work.
volunteer expenses, recruitment, coordination and management;
project coordination, outreach and engagement;
systems or technology that improve efficiency, reach or sustainability.
We recognise that resilience will mean different things for different organisations. We will ask applicants to explain what will be stronger or more sustainable at the end of the two-year grant, which could include improved partnerships and referral pathways, greater organisational capacity, a more sustainable workforce or funding base, improved accessibility and evidence of impact, or more secure Green Health provision.
Community of Practice
Alongside the grant fund, the Community of Practice will bring together organisations working across Surrey's green health sector.
Through workshops, networking events and shared resources, the Community of Practice will:
encourage collaboration and partnership working
share good practice and learning
support organisational development
build connections across the health, voluntary and environmental sectors
help shape the future of green health in Surrey
Join the Community of Practice using the form below or contact us to find out more.
Who can apply for funding?
The Green Health & Wellbeing Grant Fund will be open to eligible voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations delivering green health and wellbeing activities that benefit Surrey residents. CF Surrey’s standard eligibility criteria will apply:
How to Apply
The Fund will use a two-stage application process.
Applicants will first submit an Expression of Interest. Organisations whose proposals most closely meet the aims and priorities of the Fund will then be invited to submit a full application. Being invited to the second stage does not guarantee funding.
If you have any questions or queries about the Green Health & Wellbeing Fund, please join one of our Q&A sessions.
Key Dates
Expression of Interest Open: 12th October 2026
Expression of Interest Close: 9th November 2026 (5pm)
Invitations for Full Application: week commencing 30th November
Full Applications Deadline: 18th January 2027 (5pm)
Funding Decisions: End March 2027
Q&A Sessions
We are running three online Q&A sessions during October for the Green Health Fund to help answer questions on how to apply for funding, eligibility, support documents requirements and other processes.
Join the Green Health Community of Practice
The Green Health & Wellbeing Community of Practice is a collaborative network for organisations involved in Green Health across Surrey. Members can build relationships, share what’s working, discuss challenges, learn from one another and explore opportunities to work together.
Membership is open to organisations and individuals with an interest in Green Health and nature-based wellbeing, including those working across the voluntary, environmental, health, public, academic and funding sectors, as well as independent practitioners and advocates.
If your organisation is involved in Green Health in Surrey and would like to be part of the network, please complete the form to request to join the Community of Practice.
As a member, you’ll have opportunities to connect with others, take part in events and workshops, share learning and resources, and contribute to the development of Green Health across Surrey.
When completing this form your contact details will be shared with Surrey County Council.
Make a donation.
Donations can be made at any level, either as one-off donations or spread over a period of time. They can be donated as gifts of cash, legacies, shares, property or land.
The easiest way to give is via the link below which will direct your donation to The Green Health & Wellbeing Fund. If you would prefer to make a bank transfer, please contact us.
Don’t forget Gift Aid! Using Gift Aid means that for every pound you give, the Fund will receive an extra 25p from HM Revenue & Customs, helping your donation go further.
Who to talk to
For any enquiries relating to the Green Health & Wellbeing Community of Practice, please contact Brianne, our Grant Programme Manager.
Brianne O’Donoghue
(She/Her)
Grant Programme Manager
01483 958307
brianne@cfsurrey.org.uk
Monday - Thursday