Publish date: 11 March 2026
Tameside & Glossop NHS Charity has been awarded £24,900 for their vital work transforming an underused green space at Tameside Hospital into an accessible, inclusive and biodiverse area in Tameside and Glossop, with the aim of improving access to nature and creating a welcoming environment that supports relaxation, recovery and wellbeing.
The project will deliver accessibility improvements including the installation of tarmac pathways connecting benches and key features to ensure safe use for people with mobility issues and year-round access. Improved facilities will include the addition of a third accessible bench to create more seating for reflection, breaks and social connection.
This project is one of 15 NHS charities across the UK to receive a share of £500,000 in funding from NHS Charities Together to invest in creating and improving green spaces to benefit the health and wellbeing of NHS staff, patients and communities by giving them better access to nature.
As people live longer with increasingly complex health conditions, demand on the NHS is rising and health inequities are worsening - the role of local communities in helping people live well has more important than ever. Delivered by NHS Charities Together in partnership with environmental charity Hubbub and Starbucks, the programme addresses the fact that while research shows 8 in 10 people feel healthier and more energetic after spending time in nature, 1 in 5 people in the UK still live in areas without easy access to green spaces*.
Emily Whelan, Charity Manager at Tameside & Glossop NHS Charity, said “We’re so pleased to be awarded this funding, which will enable us to transform an underused area of our hospital grounds into a welcoming green space that supports the wellbeing of our staff, patients and community. By improving accessibility, adding seating and enhancing biodiversity through wildlife habitats and wildflower planting, this project will create a peaceful place where people can rest, reflect and reconnect with nature.”
Ellie Orton OBE, Chief Executive at NHS Charities Together, said “Access to green spaces and the benefits that this brings to our health and wellbeing should not be something limited to a lucky few, but available to everyone across the UK no matter where they live. This latest round of funding, in partnership with Starbucks and Hubbub, will build on our achievements and learnings to date and enable even more NHS Charities to create and enhance access to green spaces that support the physical and mental health of NHS staff, patients and local communities”
Gavin Ellis, Director and Co-Founder at Hubbub said “This fund has potential to make a positive difference not just to people’s wellbeing, but also to the environment. As well as the direct environmental impact of more green spaces, studies have shown that spending time in nature makes people more likely to make environmentally friendly lifestyle choices. We are delighted to partner with local NHS charities to draw on their expertise in health and wellbeing and it is great to see them partnering with implementation partners who can provide expertise in greening projects to support project delivery.”
Phil Peacock, Loyalty, Partnerships & Digital Lead at Starbucks said “Starbucks is delighted to support the Greener Communities Fund. Green space can make a real difference for NHS staff, the patients they care for, and local communities across the UK, creating calm places for rest, recovery, and healthy lives. We’re proud to play a part in helping more of these spaces come to life.”
* Research commissioned by the Greener Communities Fund in November 2023 found that:
- Eight in ten of us (80%) find spending time in green spaces makes us feel healthier and more energetic, while 70% of us report improved mental and physical health after spending time outdoors
- Benefits include improved mood (75%), immune benefits (36%), sleeping more soundly (28%) and feeling less stressed (38%)
This online survey of 2000 UK adults (nationally representative was commissioned by Barley Communications and conducted by market research company OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected between 20th-26th November 2023.
