This year Cambridge Charity Balls are raising funds for a fantastic local charity – Cultivating Change, who focus their amazing work within the Cambridge area.

Cultivating Change believe in the healing power of gardening and its ability to support mental health, build resilience, and bring people together, specifically integrating nature into education.

The need for this work within schools has never been greater. Mental health issues among children and young people are a crisis point. In 2023, one in five children in England (aged 8-16) were diagnosed with a mental health condition, a 50% increase over the past three years. Alarmingly, 75% of mental illnesses develop before the age of 18, yet only one in three children experiencing challenges receives the support they need. At the same time, children are increasingly disconnected from nature – the average child now spends less time outdoors than a maximum-security prisoner.

Schools are severely underfunded with just 33p per pupil spent on gardening, an activity which has been proven to reduce stress, boost wellbeing, and help children thrive.