Recent Hubbub polling found that spending time in nature makes three-quarters (78%) of people feel better1. Despite this, a third of people in the UK (36%) spend less than an hour a week in nature. The Nature Hubs Fund is designed to help change this.
Research shows spending time in nature is good for our physical and mental health, and green spaces help protect us against the impacts of a changing climate2. Plus the more connected we feel to nature, the more likely we are to do things that help protect it3.
Have a great idea for bringing nature closer to your community?
Together with Starbucks, Hubbub is offering 50 groups up to £6,000 of funding to develop green space initiatives and increase access to nature. Groups will be partnered with a local Starbucks store, who will support projects in a number of ways.
What’s the funding for?
It’s predicted that with a growing population, we need 4,000 new green spaces by 2033 just to maintain our current levels of access to green space4.
🌰 In a nutshell, Nature Hubs will bring people closer to nature and nature closer to people.
We will support groups to create or enhance green spaces. Applications must meet the criteria and relate to any one or more of these four themes:
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Increasing Access
To bring green space to an area where there is limited access to nature, e.g., by creating or enhancing a community garden, a green roof, increasing biodiversity in an urban area, or other similar ideas. And/or to encourage a particular demographic who might not otherwise or rarely access an existing green space to visit.
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Bringing People Together
To bring people together and create community connection in/around a shared green space. Think activities like community growing, plant sharing, coffee and chats, or youth activities.
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Upskilling the Community
To teach community members new skills and encourage health and wellbeing through spending time in green space. Think workshops and/or events taking place in green spaces, how-to guides on increasing nature connection, or training around nature-based activities.
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Building Climate Resilience
To make an existing space more climate resilient and engage the local community on climate issues. Think changes to buildings and urban spaces that increase resilience to heatwaves, drought, coastal flooding, or sea-level rise, while creating community connection in the green space.
