Boots Charitable Trust, an independent registered charity fully funded by Boots, is committed to supporting people, customers and communities where it can make the greatest positive impact. 

Most recently, the Trust has awarded £40,000 in funding to local initiatives, including Refugee Roots, The Wolfpack Project and Fearless Youth Association, supporting a range of programmes that strengthen communities across Nottinghamshire. 

One of the organisations benefiting from this funding is St Ann's Community Orchard at STAA, a Nottingham-based charity working in the heart of St Ann’s to support local families through nature-based activities. 

STAA provides safe, welcoming green spaces and community programmes that improve wellbeing and increase access to learning opportunities. The charity, based on St Ann's Allotments delivers a wide range of activities, from community meals and family days to volunteering opportunities and horticultural training. 

With support from Boots Charitable Trust, STAA is delivering its ‘New Shoots’ programme, which supports over 150 children aged 0–4 and 125 parents and carers each year. The weekly sessions offer free outdoor experiences that help young children develop key skills through play. 

Activities such as pond dipping, storytelling and growing food give children the opportunity to connect with nature, something many local families might otherwise struggle to access. The programme also helps reduce isolation among parents and carers, building stronger community networks and support systems. 

Jo Lees, Chief Executive at STAA, said: 'New Shoots sessions at the Community Orchard give local toddlers and their parents or carers the opportunity to learn, play and relax together in an outdoor setting. The programme helps children build independence and confidence, while fostering a strong connection with nature. We are incredibly grateful to the Boots Charitable Trust for enabling us to continue delivering this fantastic project.' 

The funding forms part of Boots Charitable Trust’s wider commitment to supporting people and communities, driving positive impact and creating lasting change. 

Kyle Rowe Chair of Trustees at the Boots Charitable Trust, said: “We’re proud to continue supporting projects across Nottingham that make a real difference to local communities. As a business with over 175 years of heritage in the city, it’s incredibly important to us to invest in initiatives that help people thrive, strengthen community connections and create lasting positive change.”  

The Boots Charitable Trust has been active since 1970, awarding hundreds of thousands of pounds to projects in Nottingham during this time. The Trust is rooted in the founding values that have shaped Boots for more than 175 years, inspired by the legacy of Jesse and Florence Boot, whose philanthropy in Nottingham helped expand access to green space and education across the city, including through the donation of land for the University of Nottingham