When we registered as a charity in January, our bank balance was one pound. Not a metaphor. Literally one pound.
Since then, it's been months of writing policies, drafting application forms, submitting grant applications, and trying to convince people that a brand new charity with no track record and one pound in the bank was worth backing.
Some said no. Quite a few said no, actually.
But Outdoors for All said yes. And Tesco Community Grants said yes. And suddenly we have actual funding to do actual work.
The Tesco grant is going towards equipment and resources to support children with SEND at Forest School -- things like physical challenge resources that help children with ADHD and autism regulate their emotions. The Outdoors for All funding gets us started on what we set out to do: paying for Forest School places for families who can't afford them.
It's not a huge amount of money. But it's the start. And every single penny of it will go towards getting children into the woods.
Thank you to everyone who has believed in us. The best is yet to come.