- Caritas Lalley community allotment showcases results of recent Green Community Grant
- Research has shown 71% of people say green spaces are good for their mental health, yet most don’t spend enough time in them, with over 80% saying they wish they could spend more time outside
- Applications for Bupa Foundation Green Community Grants 2026 now open – there’s up to £350,000 available for schools, charities and not-for-profits to help turn grey space into green
Caritas Lalley community centre and allotment benefitted from a £2,000 Green Community Grant from the Bupa Foundation to complete vital upgrades to expand their support to more people than ever before.
The Caritas community allotment in Collyhurst, North Manchester, offers a space for local people to learn green skills and socialise in a peaceful outdoor setting. Organic food grown on site also supplies the community food pantry at the charity’s centre adjacent to the allotment space. The team there are now able to reach even more local people who are experiencing poverty and isolation thanks to a Green Community Grant from the Bupa Foundation.
Caritas Salford is a charity that supports people experiencing poverty, homelessness, disadvantage and social exclusion across Greater Manchester and Lancashire. Providing a range of services from practical support and guidance, creating opportunities for learning and development, as well as promoting wellbeing and community connections.
The project included the redesign of the allotment which provides a welcome green haven in the busy city centre, making it more accessible to more people, as well as enabling the purchase of resources for a new library of garden and nature, and improvements to a shelter space for local people to gather in.
The project was made possible through a Green Community Grant from the Bupa Foundation, as part of Bupa’s Healthy Cities initiative, supporting grassroots projects that enhance urban green spaces, promoting both people and planet health.
Bupa Foundation Green Community Grants, in partnership with Groundwork, are now open for applications from charities, schools, and not-for-profit organisations. Grants of up to £2,000 are available to support local initiatives which invest in urban green spaces to support the wellbeing of the community.
Raddon Stephenson, allotment manager at the Caritas Lalley community allotment, food pantry and centre, said:
“As a charity that works alongside people experiencing poverty, homelessness, disadvantage and social exclusion, providing holistic activities and services that support both the mental and physical wellbeing of adults and children in our area is at the heart of what we do.
“The Green Community Grant has helped us create a more inclusive and welcoming space in our Caritas Lalley community allotment where people can learn, grow and connect with nature, supporting their wellbeing, developing new skills, and building confidence within our community.”
Anna Russell, Director of the Bupa Foundation, said:
“At Bupa, we believe the health of people and the health of our planet are deeply connected. That’s why we’re proud to support grassroots projects like the Caritas Lalley community allotment. By supporting greener, healthier urban spaces – such as this allotment in North Manchester – we’re improving the health of our cities and encouraging people to spend more time outdoors to connect with nature.
“Applications for the next group of Green Community Grants are now open. We look forward to discovering more organisations to support with their projects and making a real difference to the health of our communities and the environment.”
Want to transform your local urban green space to help people be healthier? To apply, visit www.bupafoundation.org/green-community-grants/
