Applications are now open for a fully funded place on Circle of Life Rediscovery CIC’s accredited Level 3 Certificate in Nature-Based Practice, as part of our Green Allies: Nature & Community Programme.

This opportunity is for Sussex-based community leaders, VCSE organisations, social workers, wellbeing practitioners and community-based organisations who support local people and want to develop safe, inclusive and meaningful outdoor sessions for their communities.

The programme is funded through the Awards for All Environment programme and is designed to strengthen the connection between community wellbeing, nature-based practice, land care and biodiversity.

We are offering funded training places for 10 community-based organisations or practitioners in Sussex. The aim is to support at least 10 Green Allies to complete the training and begin applying nature-based practice in their own community settings.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS: noon 7th AUGUST 2026

With Many Thanks To Our Funders:

The programme is made possible thanks to #NationalLottery players and is funded through Awards for All Environment.

What a funded place includes and what participants commit to

A funded place provides access to Circle of Life Rediscovery’s accredited Level 3 Certificate in Nature-Based Practice and full support throughout the training.

The programme includes:

• Four in-person woodland practice days 
• Four online webinars
• Practical session design and delivery
• Health and safety guidance, including risk-benefit assessment
• Trauma-informed, inclusive and reflective practice
• Practical nature connection activities as well as home study, reading and coursework
• Support to design and deliver 3-6 sessions within your own organisation, community or client group
• Guidance on land care, biodiversity and ecological responsibility (attendance on the Permaculture for Health Practitioners workshop on 14th September 2026 is required)
• Evaluation of the impact of your nature-based sessions and considering how your work can benefit both people and the local environment.
• Access to 100s of forest school resources and activities in a digital toolkit

The programme is designed to build the confidence, knowledge and practical skills needed to deliver safe, inclusive and meaningful nature-based sessions in your own setting.

Practical application in your community

A key part of the training is applying your learning in your own setting.

We are looking for applicants who can realistically go on to offer outdoor sessions with the people they already support in Sussex.

This may be through:

• a community group
• a wellbeing project
• a social prescribing or green prescribing pathway
• a family support project
• a peer support group
• a local green space or community garden
• a woodland, allotment or land-based project
• a VCSE organisation
• a local health, care or community setting.

Ideally, applicants will already have a possible site or outdoor space in mind. This does not need to be perfect or fully developed, but we are interested in people who can see how a local space could become more accessible, welcoming and beneficial for their community.

Application process & Deadline

Applications are now open.

To apply, please complete the application form below.

Applications will be reviewed against the aims of the funded project, with priority given to applicants who are well placed to use the training to support local communities and local land.

We may contact applicants for further information if needed.

DEADLINE: noon 7th August 2026

Selection priorities

Priority will be given to applicants who:

• are based in Sussex
• work with communities experiencing barriers to accessing nature;
• support people experiencing isolation, anxiety, stress, neurodivergence, menopause, health inequalities or social exclusion;
• are connected to local community groups or organisations;
• can show how they will use the training after completion;
• have access to, or a realistic plan for, a local outdoor site;
• are committed to inclusive, trauma-informed practice;
• are interested in land care, biodiversity and ecological responsibility;
• can take part in evaluation and share learning from the project.

Questions

If you have questions about the training or whether this opportunity is right for you, please contact:

[email protected]

With Many Thanks To Our Funders:

The programme is made possible thanks to #NationalLottery players and is funded through Awards for All Environment.

Course Director & Lead Facilitator: Marina Robb (MS, MSc, PGCE, Author)

Marina is a national expert in nature-based educational and therapeutic interventions. Marina also has extensive experience in the development of the Forest School movement, and is an endorsed trainer for the Forest School Association.

Elsewhere, Marina co-authored the popular, ‘Learning with Nature: A how-to guide to inspiring children through outdoor games and activities’ and ‘The Essential Guide to Forest School and Nature Pedagogy’ (with Jon Cree)

Lead Facilitator: Jon Cree

Jon has over 35 years’ experience reconnecting people of all ages with the natural world. He has trained educators internationally and has been an Earth Education trainer with the Institute for Earth Education since 1992.

Our first-of-its-kind training Certificate in Nature-based practice has already informed two published academic reports

Embedding Nature-based Practice and Nature Recovery Strategies into Public Healthcare. Author Daniel Ford PhD, September 2025 and Exploring the impact of nature-based training on practitioners in mental health and public, primary, and community health services. Author Dr Max Hope, June 2024. Funded by Natural England.

Find out more about our funded work and reports here.

About Circle of Life Rediscovery CIC

Circle of Life Rediscovery CIC has over three decades of experience delivering nature-based learning, wellbeing and training programmes with children, young people, adults, families, practitioners and communities.

We specialise in Forest School, nature-based practice, ecotherapeutic approaches, community wellbeing and training practitioners to work safely and meaningfully outdoors.

Through this project, we are supporting a new network of Green Allies who can bring nature-based practice into their own communities, while caring for local land and biodiversity.