Royal London announces new £800,000 partnership with Groundwork

• The partnership aims to support urban communities and restore nature to help people, places and nature thrive
• Working with Groundwork helps Royal London make a difference from the ground up – empowering those communities most impacted by climate change and promoting nature recovery where it’s needed most

Royal London, the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment provider, today announces a new partnership with Groundwork, a UK charity that mobilises communities to take practical action for a fairer, greener future.

Royal London and Groundwork have launched a programme with an £800,000 commitment to support people-led urban nature recovery initiatives throughout the UK and Ireland. In its first year the partnership aims to empower communities in urban areas to connect with nature and biodiversity by creating, enhancing, and stewarding local nature sites.

This new partnership directly supports Royal London’s Purpose and climate strategy that focuses on delivering real‑world outcomes for people and the planet – not just through responsible investment and policy engagement, but through community‑level action too. This partnership creates a tangible way to fund programmes that help communities most affected by climate and nature risks.

Through social impact initiatives including this latest programme with Groundwork, Royal London has the opportunity to fund initiatives and solutions which are co-created with communities impacted most by both the physical and transition climate and nature risks.

Funding community-led nature recovery

Groundwork will work with local teams and external partners to identify and deliver projects that provide significant nature and community outcomes. The funding from Royal London will be directed towards a variety of initiatives aimed at improving, protecting, and restoring green spaces, as well as boosting biodiversity in urban settings. These efforts are designed to increase opportunities for people to experience and engage with nature within their own communities, ensuring that urban environments are not only more sustainable but also more accessible for everyone.

The transformation of underused urban areas into vibrant habitats for wildlife, the rewilding of former industrial sites to revive natural processes, and the restoration of woodlands, ponds, and wetlands to foster diverse ecosystems will be amongst the project supported by Royal London. In addition, community gardens will be revitalised through volunteering and skill-building activities for Royal London colleagues, as well as encouraging residents to play an active role in enhancing their surroundings.

Many of these initiatives will bring communities together to plant wildflowers and trees, construct pollinator-friendly habitats, and develop practical conservation skills through hands-on volunteering activities.

Opportunities for Royal London colleagues and customers to get involved will contribute to the stewardship and long-term success of each project.

Commenting on the new partnership, Jo Walker, Group Director of Responsible Business at Royal London said:

“At Royal London, we believe in the power of communities to drive meaningful change. Our partnership with Groundwork reflects our commitment to fairness, sustainability, and hands-on action – helping people and nature thrive together.

“To have volunteers and residents work side by side to transform underused areas into vibrant habitats, develop practical skills, and create lasting benefits for people and the planet is an exciting prospect. By investing in grassroots action and supporting urban nature recovery, we’re investing in healthier, more resilient communities for the future.”

Commenting on working with Royal London, Groundwork’s Chief Executive Graham Duxbury said:

“Working together with Royal London will allow us to further empower and support local volunteers to create, enhance and steward biodiversity and nature in communities across the UK and Ireland that need it the most.

“Royal London’s focus on the long term for the benefit of its members, customers and their families, which includes delivering positive societal change, makes this a compelling partnership as we scale up community-powered action that restores nature, builds skills and confidence, and leaves a lasting legacy for future generations.”

The recent Creating a Future Ready Economy report from Business in the Community, funded by Royal London, found that tackling the biggest environmental problems creates opportunities to drive economic growth in ways that build durable, shared prosperity. The partnership with Groundwork will bring together businesses and communities to enable them to innovate for growth and resilience.