How Partnerships, Donations and Funding Help Us Support Our Community

Funded Projects In 2024

Updates to follow but..

Huge Thanks already to Aviva Community Fund, Crowdfunder UK, Cornwall Council.

Funded Projects In 2023

Donations received during 2023 meant we could continue our efforts in making the site as accessible and inclusive as possible, with a focus on pathways and the preparations for creating an outdoor kitchen area; as well as aiding our recovery works in the aftermath of Storm Eunice damages. 

We began our funded wellbeing sessions for adolescents, creating new opportunities for local secondary schools to support their students, and this will continue into 2024; whilst further funding successes has meant our growing team of freelancers is well supported through supervision and training opportunities to facilitate both their personal and professional growth. 

With thanks to: School for Social Entrepreneurs, Cornwall Community Foundation, Bruce Wake Charitable Trust, Duchy Health Fund, Magic Little Grants, Tesco Stronger Starts Scheme, Imerys, St Austell Town Council. 

Funded Projects In 2022

Donations received during 2022 meant we partially funded Mamas in Nature, Dangerous Dads and Making Tracks groups, enabling inclusion of people from all backgrounds; and supported the expansion of our Nurture Programme. It also provided an Education Outreach programme, providing professional development for staff on outdoor learning including the therapeutic practice to enhance wellbeing for staff and pupils. 

Other monies enabled development of a sensory garden and outdoor play space, improving our water conservation abilities, and obtaining outdoor seating including an accessible picnic table. 

With thanks to: School for Social Entrepreneurs, The National Lottery, Cornwall Community Foundation, Cornish Lithium, Cornwall Commissioner’s Community grant scheme, Asda Foundation, Volunteer Cornwall, Arnold Clark Foundation, South West Water.

Funded project at Choose Nature

Specifically Funded Projects In 2022

With money received from the lottery and Cornwall Community Foundation we have partially funded Mama’s In Nature, Dangerous Dads and Making Tracks, enabling inclusion of people from all backgrounds.

This funding also provided an Educational Outreach program, which is ongoing, providing professional development for staff on outdoor learning. This includes therapeutic practice and focuses on health and well being for staff and pupils.

A £2000 donation from Volunteer Cornwall funded Mama’s in Nature sessions for 15 young Mum’s who were referred to us. Mama’s In Nature provides a safe, supportive space which encourages positivity, connection and joy, allowing Mums to feel more relaxed, supported and calmer.

A £1500 donation from Asda paid for the development of a sensory garden and play space which is in constant use.

Support Us

Claire’s vision is clear and she has great plans for the future. Just to provide our current courses and the materials we need for our work with St Austell College we need over £50,000.

Our Skills For Life 7 day courses will cost around £3000 for 25 teens. (You can find out more about this project below)

We would love you to be part of our mission. If you to help with any of our projects, please get in touch.

The support of organisations, local businesses and individuals is key to our success.

  • Make A Donation

    You can make a donation via BACS:

    Account Name: Choose Nature CIC
    Account Number: 86588418
    Sort Code: 60 -83-71

    You are welcome to make a donation in person at our site at Higher Wheal Martyn

    Or

    Donate online via the button below.

  • Sponsor A Project, Group Or Person

    Would you like to sponsor a specific project entirely or partially?

    Our projects include groups which support individuals and families from within our community as well as short term construction projects which will allow us to extend our services.

  • Consider Leaving A Legacy In Your Will

    Leaving a legacy in you will can transform a CIC. There is no need to tell us your intention however if would like to discuss any details you are welcome to contact us.

  • Commission A Project

    We work with a number of business and organisations to provide courses and support for staff and clients.

    We’d love to hear from you if you would like to commission a project for your business, clients or members of the community.

Exciting Community Partnership

We are working with St Austell College to help develop our site here at Higher Wheal Martyn enabling us to increase the amount of programs we offer and reach more within the community.

Beginning in September 2022 students will be on site weekly as part of their Construction Diplomas. This collaboration gives students to opportunity to learn valuable skills such as laying slabs, building walls, put health and safety learnt in the classroom into practice and will give them an understanding of how to increase wheelchair accessibility.

Can You Help Us?

The college is able to provide the manpower but we need to supply the materials. We are looking for any help with sourcing materials or if you would like to make a donation towards the costs, your help would be greatly appreciated and will help to continue to build the solid foundations of our CIC.

Cornwall College volunteering at choose nature cornwall
Cornwall College volunteering at choose nature cornwall

Phase Two

Continuing our collaboration with St Austell College we will create an outdoor classroom, seating area and a wood fired pizza oven using natural products and traditional skills. This is our largest project yet and we are currently applying for funding from the National Lottery to help meet the costs.

To find out more about this project, make a donation or to help in anyway please get in touch.

Phase Three - Part of our Skills For Life project

Construction of a full outdoor kitchen including a Plancha grill, sink, worktops, storage and utensils. Our Skills For Life program is aimed at teens who are suffering from food poverty and aims to teach them about nutrition and transferable skills such as cooking, in a fun outdoors environment. You can learn more about this project below.

You can make a donation to help with any of the projects mentioned above. Alternatively if you have skills or resources you would like to donate we would be happy to have you on board. Please use the Get In Touch button above to contact Claire directly.

  • “Claire steps in to support the mums and looks after the children in such an intuitive and unobtrusive way .”

    Saskia, TALKMore Cornwall

  • I have witnessed first hand the amazingly supportive and friendly environment you have created. The safe but inclusive space you have offered so many young families in the greater St Austell area is very much needed

    Bill Davies - Volunteer Cornwall

  • Both organisations have shared values and are committed to enabling people from our communities to benefit from meaningful learning, health & wellbeing opportunites.

    Colin Vallance - Wheal Martyn

Skills For Life

Fighting Food Poverty In Cornwall

Projects needing funding in Cornwall
Projects needing funding in Cornwall

Our next big community project involves teenagers from families who are struggling with food poverty. We aim to provide a safe, interesting and enjoyable environment in which we can develop life skills such as nutritional knowledge, cooking, seasonal foods whilst improving wellbeing and overall health by being outdoors.

We hope to be part of the process of solving Holiday Hunger and take the support and motivation learnt with us back in to their home environment.

What does the course include

Cooking brunch on arrival, preparing lunch and creating a dish which can be taken home and enjoyed with the family. Throughout each young person will build connections within the community, a knowledge and understand of where food comes from, how to prepare and cook different dishes and enjoy cooking on open fires, using our home made pizza oven and plancha grill.

If you’d like to find out more about this project please contact us direct. We are looking for funding, sponsors and equipment so that all meals produced are attainable at home for each person.

Projects needing funding in Cornwall
Projects needing funding in Cornwall

Our Partners

Our Partners

We’d like to thank our partners without whom we would not exist.
Take a look at the list of Businesses and Charities that support our CIC.