The charity, Thrive actively encourage the use of gardening as part of personal health and wellbeing management to bring about positive changes in the lives of people living with disabilities or ill health, or who are isolated, disadvantaged or vulnerable. Their aim is to ensure that people with varying needs have the opportunity to access therapeutic gardening and horticulture programmes, wherever they live.

Working as a senior manager for Thrive, Ben Thomas has been working in the charity sector for nine years, covering a broad range of charitable operations and service delivery. He volunteered for several local charities and joined Thrive in 2021.

Over the last three years, Thomas has overseen the redevelopment of Thrive’s Information Service, which provides guidance and activities to enable hundreds of people to improve their health and well-being through gardening. Ben’s experience and knowledge inspired Thrive’s Trustees during a rigorous recruitment process.

“We were very impressed with Ben’s performance and we look forward to working with him in his new role”, said the Chair of the Trustees, Faith Ramsay

Thomas is passionate about the greater role Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) could play in society and is looking forward to furthering Thrive’s charitable activity, building on partnership relationships and getting more involved in advocacy work. He believes that there is huge potential for Thrive and the STH sector as they work towards better recognition and he said he was delighted to have the opportunity to lead Thrive and build on Kathryn’s great work.

Kathryn Rossiter has led Thrive for eleven years and said although she was sad to be leaving Thrive, she was pleased to be handing over to Ben. “It was clear that it was only a matter of time before he took the next step up I wish him and the whole team at Thrive all the very best for the future”, said Kathryn Rossiter, former Thrive CEO