Woodlands Named Charity!
YLF named Woodlands.co.uk Charity of the Year for 2026!
We are delighted to announce that Woodlands.co.uk has chosen YLF as its Charity of the Year for 2026!
Woodlands.co.uk is the UK’s leading provider of woodlands for sale, and this new partnership brings together a shared commitment to the power of nature in supporting wellbeing.
Their support will help us expand our nature-based work with vulnerable young people across Kent.
We’ve been supporting young people aged 7–25 who face significant challenges, including those in care, leaving care, or affected by trauma, abuse, and mental health difficulties. In 2024, we were proud to be named Kent’s Mental Health Charity of the Year, recognising our ongoing commitment to improving young people’s emotional wellbeing.
Over recent years, many of our programmes have become increasingly nature-focused, offering young people safe and supportive opportunities to connect with the outdoors. Activities such as camping, fishing, outdoor cooking, woodland crafts, and mindfulness in nature help young people build confidence, develop new skills, and improve their mental health. Access to green spaces is particularly important at a time when emotional wellbeing challenges among children and young people are rising.
Thanks to the support of Woodlands.co.uk, we will be able to grow these outdoor programmes and reach more young people with enriching, positive experiences in nature.
Anton Baskerville from Woodlands.co.uk said:
“We are incredibly proud to support The Young Lives Foundation as our Charity of the Year. Their commitment to helping young people thrive, particularly through outdoor and nature-based activities, aligns perfectly with our mission to inspire people to enjoy and care for woodlands across the UK. By supporting YLF, we are helping to give young people experiences in nature that can positively impact their health, confidence, and future opportunities.”
Kristy, our Director of Youth Programmes, said:
“Having Woodlands.co.uk as our Charity of the Year will allow us to create exciting outdoor sessions for young people, including woodland management, nature-based crafts, and mindfulness activities. Access to green spaces gives young people the chance to engage with nature in meaningful ways, which is so important for their mental wellbeing.”
We are incredibly grateful to Woodlands.co.uk for their support and look forward to working together throughout 2026 to help more young people feel safe, supported, and hopeful about their future.
The majority of our work is delivered by dedicated local volunteers, who are at the heart of our award-winning services.
We are currently recruiting volunteers across Kent, including youth workers and wellbeing mentors, outdoor practitioners, and woodland caretakers.
To get involved as a volunteer, visit our volunteer pages.