Local community group, Forever Wild at Heart CIC, is celebrating after being awarded £18,790 in National Lottery Community funding to support its nature-based wellbeing sessions for children, parents, and adults on the Isle of Wight.
The group, based in Ryde, will use this funding to expand its programme, helping more people who are experiencing isolation, low mental health, or financial pressure.
Founded by Lizzie Boynton, a Forest School Leader and nature wellbeing facilitator, Forever Wild at Heart has been connecting people with nature since 2018 and became a Community Interest Company in 2024.
400 outdoor sessions over two years
Over the next two years, the funding will enable the team to deliver around 400 outdoor sessions, creating over 5,000 attendance opportunities for children and adults combined.
These sessions will include:
- Weekly Forest School-inspired sessions supporting children’s confidence, independence, and emotional development.
- Shared parent–child nature experiences designed to strengthen relationships.
- Adult wellbeing and mindfulness sessions, offering time for rest, reflection, and connection.
- Tailored small-group sessions for new mums, people with ADHD, and women navigating menopause.
Affordable, offer subsidised or free places
The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes, will help Forever Wild at Heart to keep sessions affordable, offer subsidised or free places, and ensure continuity as the organisation works towards long-term sustainability.
Boynton: Delighted our work has recognised and supported
Lizzie Boynton, Founder of Forever Wild at Heart CIC, said,
“We’re absolutely delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised and supported our work.
“Thanks to National Lottery players, we can continue creating safe, inclusive spaces in nature for people to connect, rest, and heal.
“This funding means we can reach more families and adults across the Isle of Wight who might otherwise struggle to access wellbeing support.
“It’s about giving people the chance to slow down, breathe, and feel part of a caring community again.”
National Lottery Community Fund
The National Lottery Community Fund recently launched its strategy, ‘It starts with community’, which will underpin its efforts to distribute at least £4 billion of National Lottery funding by 2030.
As part of this, the funder has four key missions: to support communities to come together, be environmentally sustainable, help children and young people thrive, and enable people to live healthier lives.
National Lottery players raise over £30 million every week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, in 2023/24 The National Lottery Community Fund awarded over £686 million of life-changing funding to communities across the UK, supporting over 13,700 projects.
To find out more visit The National Lotteyr Community Funding website.
News shared by Lizzie in her own words. Ed
