12 | Acquisition International, August 2026 Empowering People, Plants, and Communities to Grow Located in Lincoln, Green Synergy is a well-respected, award-winning gardening and horticulture charity supporting the community of Greater Lincolnshire to socialise, learn, and thrive. Since its establishment in 2012, the charity has been on a mission to create healthier and caring communities, using community gardening to bring together people, plants, and nature. As Green Synergy is recognised in the Global Excellence Awards 2026 for its exceptional work, we spoke with Chief Executive Officer Ali Talbot for more. Contact: Ali Talbot Company: Green Synergy Web Address: www.greensynergy.org.uk programme entitled Planting Hope. This project sought to provide a programme of activities and support in a nature-based environment that enables men to strengthen their emotional wellbeing, build resilience, reduce their social isolation and risk of crisis, grow social connections, and plant seeds of hope by providing participants with tangible evidence of achievement and hope. Over the course of 2026, 26 health professional referrals were received, 90 project sessions were delivered, 243 individuals were supported, and 72 men were individually supported – with 65 having never accessed mental health services before. The outcomes data captured that 96.33% of men reported their levels of resilience and ability to manage life challenges had improved, and 100% of participants reported increased mental wellbeing. 90% of participants reported lower levels of anxiety and 100% of participants reported better outcomes in life satisfaction, sense of worth, and happiness. Looking ahead, Green Synergy is preparing to launch its workstream under Connect to Work, a programme designed to support young people with improving their confidence, wellbeing, and skills so that they can move closer to the world of work. Many of the people Green Synergy supports struggle with low self-esteem and confidence, and their resilience to life’s challenges has been tested. This upcoming garden-based programme will support individuals over the age of 18 for 12 months as they grow their confidence, nurture their self-esteem, and rebuild their resilience. What’s more, Green Synergy will also soon be launching its Gardening Outreach Service, providing a much-needed garden maintenance service to individuals across Lincolnshire who are unable to tend to their own gardens. Developed in response to increasing requests for such a service, this will provide the Green Synergy team with the opportunity to outreach wider into its Lincolnshire communities whilst also developing a new stream of income. As Green Synergy is named the East Midland’s Best Community Gardening NPO 2026, Ali shared, “We could not undertake our vital work without our supporters, and we want to build our supporter network even further. If you wish to get involved in Green Synergy, please scan the QR code and donate to support our vital work.” Contact: Ali Talbot Company: Green Synergy Web Address: www.greensynergy.org.uk “People, plants, and places are at the heart of all we do. ” Green Synergy works with disadvantaged communities and people of all ages with additional needs, including those living with mental health conditions, learning difficulties, physical disabilities, long-term health problems, and unemployment. Through its two community gardens – Hillside Garden and Ellie’s Memorial Garden – it supports these individuals in improving their mental and physical wellbeing, as well as managing the green spaces in environmentally responsible ways. Very few charities in Lincolnshire offer true social therapeutic horticultural programmes and activities like Green Synergy, supporting physical and mental wellbeing development through gardening and horticultural activities. At its core, however, Green Synergy stands as so much more than a gardening charity. The organisation also hosts community events, engagement activities, and delivers services from its Community Hub with warm and cool space activities, a lunch club, and “Cuppa, Craft, and Chat” sessions. Through 2025 and 2026, Green Synergy’s work positively supported 5,235 people with 2,466.75 volunteering hours. 498 people were supported by the organisation’s warm spaces service, and the charity received 118 essential referrals. Its team fielded 262 enquiries, its website received 2,700 visits, and its social media activities generated more than 820,000 impressions. Furthermore, from 2025 to 2026, 91.64% of Green Synergy’s project participants reported that they felt their health and wellbeing had improved following engagement with the charity, while 90.75% of all participants felt that their confidence had improved. 84.10% felt that they had gained new skills and 91.11% reported increased resilience and ability to cope with their self-car, whilst 94.16% felt more connected and less isolated. “As a small charity, Green Synergy is very proud of the trust we have built with our local communities, which has enabled us to support so many people,” said Ali. “The impact that our charitable work makes to the health and wellbeing of our local community is crucial, and the difference we make to enable people to thrive is central to our mission.” Most recently, Green Synergy delivered a Lincolnshire-wide men’s suicide prevention
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