A charity that helps people with mental health issues by connecting them with nature is delighted after receiving £500 in funding from a homebuilder.

Ribble Valley-based community group Outdoors 4 All Together is one of 10 organisations to have received a grant from the Miller Homes community fund.

The initiative was set up by the builder in September 2022, for local community and charity groups to have the opportunity to apply for donations between a minimum of £250 and a maximum of £2,000.

Lancashire Telegraph: Volunteers and those being helped by Outdoors 4 All Together Volunteers and those being helped by Outdoors 4 All Together (Image: Yasmin Thomas Photography)

Outdoors 4 All Together applied for the first round of the contributions, in hopes of obtaining money to support their ongoing initiative of improving the mental health and wellbeing of people of all ages and capabilities through contact with nature in Clitheroe and the wider Lancashire region.

The scheme aims to provide a safe space for vulnerable people to meet and socialise, including rest bite to those who are careers.

The organisation received £500 from the homebuilder, which will cover 12- weekly two-hour sessions to the public.

This includes weekly dementia friendly classes, staff funding, consumables, and transport contributions too.

Lancashire Telegraph: Outdoors 4 All Together volunteers helping people Outdoors 4 All Together volunteers helping people (Image: Yasmin Thomas Photography)

The charity supports a variety of ages and needs, most recently hosting a Pooh bear picnic with dementia friends of the organisation, hosted at Whalley Abbey due to their generous offer to support the charity.

The money donated by Miller Homes helps to support classes that Outdoors4All Together holds every week, providing a safe space for vulnerable people to meet and socialise and also to offer a welcome break for those who care for these individuals too.

Glen Fendall, director of Outdoors4All Together, said: “We’re so grateful we came across the Miller Homes community fund, and I would like to extend a massive thank you to the Miller Homes team from all of our team, for choosing our organisation.

"We have no shortage of fantastic volunteers, and the funding is going to make a huge difference to how they can support our local community in the coming months.”

Clare Noakes, Miller Homes’ sales director for the North West, added: “The community fund has been a massive success thus far.

"It’s great to see it doing exactly what we intended it to - supporting great grassroots causes like Outdoors4All Together. They were a very worthy candidate. We are so glad to have been able to help many charities and communities in need.”

The homebuilder saw a flurry of applications within the first few weeks of the fund launching in September 2022, attracting community groups across the region to apply for support.

Lancashire Telegraph: People at Outdoors 4 All Together People at Outdoors 4 All Together (Image: Yasmin Thomas Photography)

The initiative extended across its 10 regions in England and Scotland – generating over 400 applications. Groups applied for donations ranging from £250 up to a maximum of £2,000.

Across the UK, 96 community groups have been supported and after much consideration, 10 worthy causes in the North West were chosen by Miller Homes staff who volunteered to take on the role of Community Fund Ambassadors.