ecoACTIVE

What ecoACTIVE does

ecoACTIVE is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered in England and Wales (Charity No. 1180582) operating an environmental education programme in East London. The organisation, founded in 1999 (with roots in the Hackney Environmental Education Project dating to 1984), delivers hands-on, practical sustainability education through three core programme lines: school workshops (primary, secondary and FE/college) covering seven environmental themes, Forest School sessions based on child-led outdoor learning, and Community Garden Network support spanning 15+ garden groups across Hackney and Newham. A flagship initiative is the Hackney Buzzline, a 4km pollinator corridor connecting four Hackney parks, and the organisation also delivers the Green Influencers youth programme, ISEP-accredited sustainability skills qualifications, and corporate training products.

The business model blends fee-for-service delivery with philanthropic funding. Schools pay per workshop session (£200/£300/£400 for one/two/three sessions), while corporate clients engage through three tiered partnership levels (Sow Seeds, Plant Trees, Grow Forests) and book add-on services such as Wellness Walks and a 75-minute online carbon-footprint course. A material share of operating income comes from grants and donations, including recurring support from the Hiscox Foundation (£64,500 across 2021-2024), Faber & Faber (£9,000 across 2023-2024), the Bupa Foundation, the Badur Foundation, and smaller one-off corporate gifts. Operations are run by a small in-house team (six named staff including Director Jessica Dolan and Deputy Director Catia Squarcia) based at The Leaside Trust site in Clapton, with delivery executed directly into schools, community gardens, and corporate venues.

Customer segments span primary and secondary schools, further education colleges, corporate organisations (CSR/ESG/DEI buyers), community groups and residents, and individual volunteers. Distribution is direct-to-venue with no reseller or e-commerce layer; the Schools Bursary Scheme and free downloadable teacher/family resources support access and top-of-funnel demand generation.

Name

ecoACTIVE

Legal name

ecoACTIVE Education

Website

https://ecoactive.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ecoACTIVE is an East London environmental education charity delivering hands-on school workshops, Forest School sessions, and community garden projects across Hackney and Newham, funded by school fees, corporate partnerships, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• School workshops
• Forest school
• Community gardening
• Sustainability training

Headquarters

HQ city

Clapton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. School Workshop Fees: ecoACTIVE charges schools for workshop delivery. Primary workshops are priced at £200 for one session, £300 for two sessions, and £400 for three sessions per visit. Sessions are 60-75 minutes in length.
2. Corporate Training and Services: Organizations book corporate programs including Wellness Walks (90 minutes along the Hackney Buzzline) and Sustainability in Achievable Steps training (75-minute online course for staff teams). Corporate partnerships are offered at three tiers: Sow Seeds, Plant Trees, and Grow Forests.
3. Donations and Grants: The charity receives donations from individuals and organizations, with specific corporate donations from companies like Hiscox (£64,500 total across 2021-2024), Faber & Faber (£9,000 total), and others. Grant funding from foundations supports specific projects.
4. Community Garden Network Support: Support provided to community garden groups, funded through grants from organizations like Badur Foundation (£4,000) and Bupa Foundation, with services including training, infrastructure, and consultation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ecoACTIVE is an environmental education charity delivering hands-on, practical sustainability workshops and courses for schools and community groups in East London. Core offerings include Primary and Secondary school workshops across seven environmental themes, Forest School sessions, Community Garden projects, and the Hackney Buzzline pollinator corridor programme. Supplementary services include Wellness Walks, corporate sustainability training, ISEP-accredited qualifications, Green Careers workshops, and Community Garden Training Programmes.

Product overview

ecoACTIVE is an environmental education charity offering a portfolio of programmes and resources focused on sustainability education in East London. The core offerings include school workshops (Primary and Secondary), Forest School sessions, and community garden support, all delivered through hands-on, practical approaches. Key programmes include The Hackney Buzzline pollinator corridor project, Green Influencers youth programme, and the Community Garden Network supporting 15+ garden groups across Hackney. Educational resources include free Teacher Resources (Consumption & Waste, Sustainability, Urban Wildlife packs) and Family Resources (DIY crafts and recipes). Corporate and organisational services include Wellness Walks, Sustainability in Achievable Steps training, and Green Careers Workshops. The organisation also provides ISEP Environmental Sustainability Skills accreditation and various school programmes including the Schools Bursary Scheme for financial support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Eco Workshops (Primary & Secondary) Cross-curricular, age-appropriate hands-on environmental education workshops from EYFS through KS5 covering seven environmental themes (Food Growing & Compost, Renewable Energy, Waste & 3Rs, Air Pollution, Wild City, Water Scarcity & Pollution, Plastics for primary; Food & Nutrition, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Travel, Consumption & Waste, Citizenship, Textiles, Plastics for secondary). Delivered on-site at schools for £200/session, £300/two sessions, or £400/three sessions.
• Forest School Sessions Child-led, hands-on outdoor learning experiences in natural environments for children aged 7-11, including shelter building, bird watching, bug hunting, tree identification, pond dipping, fire lighting, and nature craft. Delivered as 12-week programmes.
• Community Garden Projects Direct support for community gardens in Hackney and Newham, helping residents develop new skills while nurturing green spaces in urban environments. The Community Garden Network supports 15+ garden groups across Hackney.
• The Hackney Buzzline A 4km pollinator corridor connecting four parks in Hackney (Mabley Green, Daubeney Fields, Millfields Park, Hackney Downs) through community planting of pollinator-rich meadows and flower beds. Aligned with Hackney's Local Nature Recovery Plan.
• Green Influencers Programme Youth programme supporting young people as they develop and deliver social action environmental projects in their communities.
• Wellness Walks 90-minute guided outdoor walks along the Hackney Buzzline combining mindfulness in nature with hands-on community service such as litter-picking. Designed for corporate groups and community participants.
• Sustainability in Achievable Steps Interactive 75-minute online course helping staff teams calculate their personal carbon footprint and learn practical strategies for reducing emissions.
• ISEP Environmental Sustainability Skills Accredited qualification in environmental sustainability skills for further education students, delivered as an ISEP Training Partner under the International Sustainability Education Programme.
• Green Careers Workshop Workshop introducing students to green jobs and careers in the sustainability sector, including interactive team activities solving environmental problems.
• Community Garden Training Programme Hands-on training programme helping people design, create, and care for nature-rich urban spaces, supporting volunteers, residents, schools, and land managers. Bupa Foundation is funding 10 expert-led training events from November 2025 to September/October 2026.
• Schools Bursary Scheme Financial support scheme helping schools access ecoACTIVE workshops and environmental education programmes.
• Environmental Education at The Leaside Trust Comprehensive environmental education sessions for young people set alongside the River Lea at Walthamstow Marshes, hosted at The Leaside Trust site.
• Sustainability Workshops Seven-topic secondary workshop module series covering Food & Nutrition, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Travel, Consumption & Waste, Citizenship, Textiles, and Plastics.
• Staff Training Training for school staff on outdoor learning and Forest School practices, covering educational theory, health & safety basics, and practical outdoor activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% of children showed improved social skills after Forest School programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Futures For AllcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ecoACTIVE partnered with Futures For All to deliver a two-day virtual work experience, giving young people from across the country a behind-the-scenes look at careers in the green industry. Through interactive sessions, collaborative activities and an accredited ISEP qualification, 79% of participants left feeling confident they could achieve their career ambitions.
• The Leaside TrustcoreOthersecoACTIVE operates from The Leaside Trust site at Spring Lane, Clapton, London E5 9HQ. ecoACTIVE offers environmental education sessions at The Leaside Trust location alongside the River Lea, with stunning views of Walthamstow Marshes, providing Hackney's comprehensive environmental education experience for young people.
• Hackney CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerecoACTIVE works in collaboration with Hackney Council, including the Community Gangs Team and Parks Team, for various projects including the Hackney Buzzline corridor. The Buzzline is aligned with Hackney's Local Nature Recovery Plan.
• ISEP (International Sustainability Education Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerecoACTIVE is an official ISEP Training Partner, recognized by International Sustainability Education Partnership to deliver environmental sustainability skills training and accredited qualifications for young people.
• Core LandscapesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerecoACTIVE partners with Core Landscapes (a Core Arts project) to deliver practical, beginner-friendly gardening workshops focused on pruning, propagation, and drought-resilient gardening across Core Landscapes' award-winning green spaces in Homerton, Hackney.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Groundwork UK: UK federation of environmental regeneration charities running community-based environmental projects with strong education and volunteering components. Comparable as a network of locally-rooted environmental charities delivering training, community gardens, and school engagement.
• Hubbub Foundation: UK environmental charity running community engagement campaigns on sustainability themes including waste, food, and nature. Comparable as a smaller, programmatically-focused environmental charity combining community education with corporate partnerships.
• Keep Britain Tidy: Environmental charity running school education programs on waste, litter, and sustainability themes. Directly comparable on curriculum-aligned environmental education for schools, with overlapping themes (Waste & 3Rs, consumption, community action).
• The Conservation Volunteers (TCV): UK charity delivering practical conservation activities, environmental education, and community green-space programs. Comparable as a hands-on environmental action and education charity combining volunteer engagement with community learning outcomes.
• London Wildlife Trust: London-based conservation charity running environmental education programs for schools and community groups across the capital. Directly comparable as a London-focused wildlife/environmental education nonprofit delivering hands-on learning and managing nature reserves in urban areas.
• Earthwatch Europe: Environmental education and citizen science charity engaging schools and communities in field-based sustainability learning. Comparable as a hands-on environmental education provider focused on community-led engagement and measurable ecological outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• The Woodland Trust: UK-wide conservation charity focused on woodland protection with extensive school and community engagement programs. Comparable on Forest School-style outdoor learning and tree-planting community engagement, though at a much larger national scale.
• The Wildlife Trusts: UK federation of 46 wildlife trusts running nature reserves and education programs nationwide. Comparable as a broader environmental/conservation charity with extensive school engagement offerings, though operating at much larger national scale than ecoACTIVE.
• RSPB: UK's largest nature conservation charity with extensive school education programs, community engagement, and youth programs. Comparable on wildlife/conservation education offerings, though ecoACTIVE operates at a much more localized and grassroots scale.

Emerging players

• Centre for Sustainable Energy: UK charity delivering sustainability training, advice, and education programs including carbon footprint reduction courses. Comparable on the corporate training and adult sustainability education offering (overlapping with ecoACTIVE's 'Sustainability in Achievable Steps' course).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ecoactive_uk
• Facebookfacebook.com/ecoACTIVEUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecoactive-education
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecoactive_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ecoACTIVE