Donation supports vital work for nature

An Exeter-based charity, Embercombe, has been awarded £1,000 by Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards to support its work in nature and community education.

Now in its sixth year, Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards is donating over £1 million across the UK to support charities chosen by public nominations.

Embercombe, a retreat centre nestled in a wild valley on the borders of Dartmoor is among the recipients.

Described as a place to connect with one’s authentic, natural self, Embercombe offers a range of programs, courses, and events designed to help the community gain new skills and enrich their connection to nature.

The £1,000 donation will allow the charity to offer more subsidised and bursary-supported places in its programs, making its services accessible to a wider audience.

Lore Wilson, Operations Manager at Embercombe, expressed gratitude for the award: “Embercombe is a beautiful 50-acre rewilding estate on the edge of Dartmoor, where we run various programmes, courses, and events each year. All of these offer experiences where our guests gain new skills, acquire knowledge, and find deeper connection with themselves, with nature, and with community. We invite all who visit us to walk the Twin Trail of inner work and outer action, which speaks to the necessity of deepening spiritually while also vigorously bringing your gifts to the world. We exist in service of a flourishing world for all species, and any donations are gratefully received in helping us achieve this aim.”

Alongside Embercombe, two other Devon charities—Rainbow Living in Exeter and South West Blood Bikes in Newton Abbot—have each received £1,000 from the awards program.

Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive at Benefact Group, acknowledged the public’s role in nominating charities.

He said: "We would like to thank every single person who took the time to nominate a good cause as part of our Movement for Good Awards. Benefact Group is a family of award-winning specialist financial services companies and the third largest corporate donor to charity in the UK. Owned by a charity ourselves, charitable giving is at the heart of what we do.

"We know that £1,000 can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do, and we’re looking forward to seeing how this financial boost will change lives for the better.”

Since 2014, Benefact Group has donated over £200 million to charitable causes and aims to reach £250 million by 2025. 

More winners will be announced throughout the year, with residents across Devon encouraged to continue nominating local causes.