Perennial, the UK’s only charity for everyone working in or retired from horticulture, is celebrating 25 years of innovation and development in their free services, supporting people facing financial, health, career or life-changing challenges.
Seasonality of work, physical injury and isolated working are just some of the horticulture specific issues people can face, as well as the impact of major events such as bereavement or homelessness.
Today the charity provides personalised support through a national helpline, network of case workers and regulated money and debt advice, as well as information and guidance on a wide range of issues affecting people in horticulture.
Founded in 1839 the charity, formerly called the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society, provided financial assistance to retired gardeners, many of whom lost tied accommodation when they stopped working. In those days the support of the charity could be the difference between the ability to live independently and the workhouse.
In 2000 the charity recognised that its services needed to expand to support more people, including people of working age – one of the first benevolent funds in the UK to make this significant change.
An interactive timeline on the charity’s website (perennial.org.uk/innovation-services) shows the development of Perennial’s services over the last 25 years, highlighting the innovations that reflect changing needs, as well as the growth in impact of their work:
- 2000: the charity supported 400 retired gardeners with financial assistance and linen parcels.
- 2001: structure of services changes and support broadens to working gardeners
- 2003: the charity rebranded to Perennial to reflect the expansion of their support to all sectors of horticulture.
- 2004: Alan Titchmarsh CBE VMH DL joined as the charity’s President, in recognition of the importance of supporting everyone who works with plants, trees, flowers and grass to create the beautiful green spaces we all enjoy.
- 2005: centralised helpline launched
- 2008: regulated debt advice service launched
- Since 2019 Perennial have expanded their digital and guidance-focused activities so people can access the information they need when they need it, making positive changes to prevent an issue becoming a crisis.
- 2025: the charity supported 2,445 people with tailored one to one support.
Director of Services, Helen Waddington, joined Perennial in 2001 as part of the original expansion of the charity’s services and says:
“It has been an incredible journey over the last 25 years, changing how we support people in all sectors of horticulture so that we can offer services that make a difference to lots of people’s lives. My family have been in horticulture for several generations and I’ve seen firsthand the challenges people have to cope with.
The team at Perennial provide holistic support – looking at all aspects of an issue and working with the person towards a positive, long-term solution. I am very proud of how closely we work with the industry to ensure our services are proactive and relevant to current needs and to be responsible for the ongoing development of these services.”
Perennial’s latest impact report for 2025 clearly demonstrates how the charity is supporting people in horticulture today, including:
- 2,445 people received holistic support
- 19,753 preventative activities and informative programmes delivered
- £235,335 of personal debt disputed or written off
- £16,373 invested in employment and training support
- 64 people seeking legal advice and
- £380,645 secured in benefit entitlements.
The full report is available at perennial.org.uk/about-us/our-impact
