NEWS: Groundwork Announces New £800,000 Partnership With Royal London
Groundwork is boosting community-led nature recovery by joining forces with UK life, pensions and investment provider, Royal London.
Groundwork and Royal London have launched a programme with an £800,000 commitment to support people-led nature recovery initiatives throughout urban communities in the UK and Ireland. In its first year the partnership aims to empower communities most impacted by climate change to connect with nature and biodiversity by creating, enhancing, and stewarding local nature sites.
Funding will be directed towards a variety of initiatives aimed at improving, protecting, and restoring green spaces, as well as boosting biodiversity in urban settings. The transformation of underused urban areas into vibrant habitats for wildlife, the rewilding of former industrial sites to revive natural processes, and the restoration of woodlands, ponds, and wetlands to foster diverse ecosystems will be amongst the projects supporting the community-led nature recovery.
These efforts are designed to increase opportunities for people to experience and engage with nature within their own communities, ensuring that urban environments are not only more sustainable but also more accessible for everyone.
In addition, community gardens will be revitalised through volunteering and skill-building activities for Royal London colleagues, as well as encouraging residents to play an active role in enhancing their surroundings. Many of these initiatives will bring communities together to plant wildflowers and trees, construct pollinator-friendly habitats, and develop practical conservation skills through hands-on volunteering activities, contributing to the stewardship and long-term success of each project.
Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive, said:
Working together with Royal London will allow us to further empower and support local volunteers to create, enhance and steward biodiversity and nature in communities across the UK and Ireland that need it the most.
Royal London’s focus on the long term for the benefit of its members, customers and their families, which includes delivering positive societal change, makes this a compelling partnership as we scale up community-powered action that restores nature, builds skills and confidence, and leaves a lasting legacy for future generations.
Jo Walker, Group Director of Responsible Business at Royal London, said:
At Royal London, we believe in the power of communities to drive meaningful change. Our partnership with Groundwork reflects our commitment to fairness, sustainability, and hands-on action – helping people and nature thrive together. By investing in grassroots action and supporting urban nature recovery, we’re investing in healthier, more resilient communities for the future.
The partnership will bring together businesses and communities to enable them to innovate for growth and resilience.
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact: media@groundwork.org.uk
About Groundwork
Groundwork is a federation of charities with a collective mission to take practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive. We support communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience in order to tackle hardship, achieve a just transition to net-zero and help nature recover in a way that reduces inequality and leads to healthier, happier lives for all: www.groundwork.org.uk
About Royal London
Royal London is the largest mutual life, pensions and investment company in the UK, and in the top 30 mutuals globally*, with assets under management of £181bn, 8.1 million policies in force and over 4,800 employees. Figures quoted are as at 30 June 2025. Learn more at royallondon.com.
