Project Giving Back

Charity Number: 1198478

Annual Expenditure: £4.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Total Investment: £12m+ (2022-2026)
  • Success Rate: ~10% (200+ applications, 12-15 gardens funded per year)
  • Decision Time: 4-5 months (Expression of Interest to final decision)
  • Grant Range: Under £100,000 - £300,000+ (depending on garden size)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-based charities, with geographic priorities for final years
  • Program Status: Applications closed; final year is 2026

Contact Details

Website: www.givingback.org.uk

Email: info@givingback.org.uk

Phone: 020 3576 1951

Charity Number: 1198478

CEO: Hattie Ghaui (main point of contact for applications)

Overview

Project Giving Back (PGB) is a unique grant-making charity registered in May 2022 (Charity Number 1198478) that provides fully-funded gardens for UK-based charitable organizations at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Founded by two anonymous private individuals in response to the devastating effects of Covid-19 on UK charitable fundraising, PGB has committed over £20 million to fund 60 gardens from 2022 to 2026, when the program will conclude. The charity provides complete funding for garden creation, giving organizations such as Mind, RNLI, National Autistic Society, and lesser-known regional causes a platform to raise awareness and funds at the world's most famous horticultural event. PGB was shortlisted for the 2025 Charity Awards, with judges praising it as “an ingenious way of helping charities to build profile and capture public interest.” All funded gardens are relocated to permanent homes across the UK after the show, creating lasting legacies as community spaces, teaching gardens, and therapeutic environments.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gardens (Applications now closed)

  • Large Show Gardens: £300,000+ (requires RHS Chelsea experience)
  • Sanctuary Gardens: £150,000-£300,000
  • All About Plants (inside Great Pavilion): Under £100,000

Application Method: Closed application process with Expression of Interest, followed by shortlisting, design development phase, and final presentations to panel.

Important Note: PGB is not accepting new applications. The final year of funding is 2026, with all 60 garden slots committed.

Priority Areas

Geographic Priorities for Final Years (2025-2026):

According to Chair of Trustees Rosie Atkins: “We are particularly interested in hearing from charities and designers who can deliver garden plans for Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, East Anglia and the North East of England.”

Organizational Priorities:

  • UK registered charities (predominantly)
  • Community interest companies
  • Not-for-profit organizations
  • Educational programmes

Thematic Focus:

  • Broad representation of different charitable purposes aligned with UK Charities Act 2011
  • Organizations affected by Covid-19 pandemic and economic downturn
  • Causes that can effectively communicate their mission through garden design

What They Don't Fund

  • PR and marketing costs (charities must handle their own)
  • Entertainment costs during show week
  • Show tickets
  • Non-UK based organizations
  • Organizations without a garden relocation plan
  • Applications where relocated garden won't be publicly accessible
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Rosie Atkins (Chair of Trustees)

  • Founding editor of Gardens Illustrated
  • RHS Vice President
  • Founder trustee of London Gardens Network
  • Chairman emeritus of RHS Woody Plant Committee
  • Trustee of Great Dixter Charitable Trust
  • Recipient of RHS Elizabeth Medal of Honour

Quote from Rosie Atkins: “Our focus in the final two years of PGB will be on funding gardens intended to be repurposed in UK locations not yet covered to date... We also hope to have supported a full range of charitable purposes over our five years of funding, and will place emphasis on any gaps as we consider future applications.”

Alexandra Denman

  • Independent Project Manager
  • Former RHS Chelsea Flower Show Manager

Arne Maynard

  • Founder of Arne Maynard Garden Design
  • RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winner

Mark Fane

  • Chief Executive of Crocus
  • RHS Vice President

Executive Team

Hattie Ghaui (CEO, appointed May 2022)

  • Joined as Project Director in July 2021
  • Background in strategy, project management, and consumer branding
  • Main point of contact for applications

Quote from Hattie Ghaui: “Our founders wanted to do something that would help organisations bounce back and they recognised the power of gardens to connect and engage with people. They had a belief that giving the gift of an opportunity to a charity rather than direct funding would have a ripple effect, bringing positive impact in a variety of ways.”

Elisa Davies - Finance and Compliance Director

Isabella Nunes da Costa - Project & Production Manager

Chantelle Bartrup - Social Media & Brand Executive

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: Applications closed. All 60 gardens for 2022-2026 program committed.

Previous Application Process (for reference):

  1. Expression of Interest: Joint applications from charity and designer partnership (formal arrangement not required at initial stage)
  • Show Gardens (large): RHS Chelsea experience required
  • Show Gardens (small): Experience not essential
  • All About Plants: Must demonstrate understanding of category and commitment to showcase rare/unusual plants with specialist nurseries
  • Early November: Expression of Interest window closes
  • Mid-November: Longlist confirmed, invited to submit moodboards
  • Mid-January: Shortlist confirmed, awarded grant for design development
  • February: Shortlisted teams submit full proposals and attend in-person presentations to PGB panel
  • Early April: Final selection announced

Important: PGB selection does not guarantee RHS acceptance - all gardens subject to usual RHS selection process.

Decision Timeline

Total Process: 4-5 months from Expression of Interest to final decision

Key Stages:

  • Expression of Interest to Longlist: 2-3 weeks
  • Longlist to Shortlist (with design development): 2 months
  • Shortlist to Final Selection: 6-8 weeks

Success Rates

Highly Competitive:

  • ~200 applications received each year
  • 12-15 gardens funded per year (2022-2024)
  • Success rate: approximately 10%

Gardens Funded:

  • 2022: 12 gardens
  • 2023: Multiple gardens
  • 2024: 15 gardens
  • 2025: 10 gardens
  • 2026: Final year (number TBD)

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - applications are closed and program ends in 2026.

Application Success Factors

What PGB Values

Partnership Approach:

  • Joint applications from charities and designers who have already formed partnerships
  • No need to have worked together previously
  • Both parties equally important to application success

Design Excellence:

  • Create an “exciting exhibit”
  • For All About Plants: passion for unusual and rare plants essential
  • Demonstrate understanding of chosen category

Post-Show Legacy:

  • Clear garden relocation plan required
  • Proof of public accessibility/benefit of relocated garden
  • Consider planning consent requirements
  • Sustainable approach to garden's future use

Geographic and Thematic Diversity:

  • Final years prioritizing underrepresented UK regions (Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, East Anglia, North East England)
  • Aim to represent full range of charitable purposes

Successful Examples

2024 Funded Gardens:

  • National Autistic Society
  • WaterAid (designed by Tom Massey and Je Ahn)
  • Sue Ryder
  • The King's Trust
  • Hospice UK
  • The Wildlife Trust
  • Muscular Dystrophy UK (Ula Maria's Forest Bathing Garden)
  • National Garden Scheme (Tom Stuart Smith)

Impact Examples:

  • RNLI raised £800,000 at a single evening event during show week
  • Bowel Research UK raised £175,000 in their 2024 campaign
  • The Stroke Association Garden relocated to Chapel Allerton Hospital in Leeds
  • Mind Garden (Andy Sturgeon, 2022) now in Barrow-in-Furness used for therapeutic gardening and eco-therapy
  • Royal Entomological Society insect garden (Tom Massey, 2023) replanted in Stratford Cross, East London

Funder's Advice

From CEO Hattie Ghaui: “We like to think of Chelsea as a stopping off place for these gardens on their journey to their permanent home. We want our charities to really make the most of the opportunities at the show, but for their stories and impact to continue and be enjoyed indefinitely.”

Budget Considerations:

  • Grants cover exhibit costs, transport, accommodation for essential staff
  • Do NOT include PR/marketing, entertainment, or show tickets in budget
  • Value varies case-by-case based on designs and budgets
  • Sustainability is a key consideration

Media Strategy:

  • Charities responsible for own PR and marketing
  • RHS Press Office provides support
  • Press day offers significant media opportunities
  • Coordinate press activities with RHS press office

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Applications are closed - PGB is completing its five-year program ending in 2026, with all 60 garden slots committed
  • Highly specialized funder - Only funds gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, not general charitable programs or operating costs
  • Exceptional visibility opportunity - Success rate of ~10% but offers unparalleled national media exposure and fundraising potential (examples: £800k raised by RNLI, £175k by Bowel Research UK)
  • Post-show legacy essential - Must have concrete relocation plan with public accessibility; gardens become permanent community assets
  • Partnership is mandatory - Must apply jointly with designer; relationship strength and shared vision critical to success
  • Two-stage funding - Shortlisted applicants receive grant for design development before final selection
  • RHS approval still required - PGB funding does not guarantee RHS show space; subject to separate RHS selection process
  • Geographic and thematic gaps prioritized - Final years focusing on underrepresented UK regions and charitable purposes not yet covered

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