Run directly
RallyGood organises forest-bathing sessions with trained facilitators. We plan a baseline of one session each quarter.
Our local work
Nature & wellbeing
Alongside our international relief Drops, RallyGood is being set up to run and fund free, facilitated time in nature close to home, including forest bathing, for people facing isolation, hardship or barriers to taking part. These programmes are planned. No sessions are scheduled yet.
Why nature, and why locally?
Relief is not only about parcels and shelter overseas. In the UK too, many people are lonely, under strain or shut out of the places and activities that help others feel well. Time outdoors, in company and without pressure, is one of the simplest and lowest-cost ways to help.
This is the local side of what RallyGood does. International relief is delivered through Drops. Nature and wellbeing programmes are an ongoing part of how the charity works closer to home, in the UK, and they are not run as time-limited appeals.
What is forest bathing?
Forest bathing is the practice of spending slow, unhurried time among trees, using all of your senses. It began in Japan in the 1980s, where it is known as shinrin-yoku, which can be translated as "taking in the forest atmosphere".
It is not a hike, a fitness class or a nature lecture. There is no destination and no target pace. A trained facilitator invites people to slow right down, notice what is around them and take part only as far as feels comfortable.
- Sight: light through leaves, shapes, colours, movement.
- Sound: birdsong, wind, water, and quiet.
- Touch and smell: bark, moss, soil, air after rain.
- Pace: slow walking, pausing, sitting, and sharing only if you wish.
Why we think it matters
Research on spending time in green space and woodland, including forest bathing studies, suggests it can be associated with lower stress and better mood for many people. The evidence is still developing and results vary, so we do not claim that forest bathing treats or cures any condition.
What we can say is simpler: for people who are isolated or under pressure, a calm, free, welcoming session outdoors can be a way to rest, meet others and feel part of something. It is an offer of wellbeing and inclusion, not medical care.
Who the programmes are for
Our purposes are to support community wellbeing and social inclusion through access to nature-based and other programmes for people experiencing disadvantage, isolation or barriers to participation. In practice we expect to welcome people who might otherwise find it hard to take part, for example because of cost, confidence, loneliness, or not knowing where to start. Everyone is welcome to join.
How it will work
Two ways we deliver.
We plan to run some programmes ourselves and to fund others, so more people can take part in more places.
Fund partners
We make grants to established charities, NGOs and community organisations with a proven record in this kind of work. We do not make grants to individuals.
Keep it open
Access is free. An optional suggested donation helps pay for future sessions, but it is never required.
Report back
We intend to publish what we ran or funded, how many people took part and what we learned, in line with our transparency commitments.
What a session may look like
Each session will be shaped by its facilitator, the site and the group. As a guide, a session might include:
- A welcome and a short explanation of what to expect, with no pressure to take part in anything you don't want to.
- A gentle, slow walk with pauses to notice what you see, hear, smell and feel.
- Time to sit quietly on your own, or somewhere comfortable to rest.
- An optional, relaxed chance to share and a hot drink, if the venue allows.
Sessions are planned to be short enough to be manageable, at an easy pace. You can pause, sit out or leave at any time.
Accessibility and inclusion
We want these sessions to be open to people with a range of needs and abilities. Before each session we will aim to say what the site is like, how far people will walk, and whether paths are step-free, and we will ask people to tell us about any adjustments that would help. Nobody should be turned away because they cannot give, and we will always welcome a conversation about what would make attending possible.
Safety and safeguarding
Outdoor sessions carry risks, so we plan to carry out a risk assessment for each site and to make sure facilitators are trained and appropriate checks are in place. Our safeguarding summary sets out how we intend to protect children and adults at risk, including photo consent. Forest bathing is not a substitute for medical or mental health care. If you are unwell or worried about your health, please speak to your GP or a qualified professional first.
How the programmes are funded
International Drops are time-limited appeals with a target and close-out report. Local nature and wellbeing work is different: it is an ongoing part of what RallyGood does, supported by general giving, the optional session donation and, in time, grants and sponsorship. We are not yet accepting donations, and we will explain clearly how any gift is used before anyone gives.
Get involved
Run nature-based wellbeing? Let's talk.
If you are a charity or community organisation delivering nature-based or wellbeing programmes, or a trained forest-bathing facilitator, we would like to hear from you. Every partner goes through due diligence before we fund or work with them.
FAQ
Questions about sessions.
Is it really free?
Yes. Sessions are intended to be free. An optional suggested donation of £5–£10 helps pay for future sessions, but nobody is excluded if they cannot or do not want to give.
When and where are the sessions?
Not yet confirmed. We plan at least one session per quarter and will publish dates and locations here once they are agreed.
Do I need to be fit or experienced?
No. Forest bathing is slow and gentle, and you choose how much to take part. It is not exercise.
Is this therapy or medical treatment?
No. It is a wellbeing and social inclusion activity. It does not replace medical or mental health care.
Is this one of your Drops?
No. Drops are time-limited appeals, mainly for international disaster and hardship relief. Nature and wellbeing is part of how we work locally on an ongoing basis.