ABOUT US

By blending creativity, mindfulness, and nature, we inspire well-being and meaningful connections in communities across West Yorkshire.

who we are
our how
our values
meet the team

Who we are

Inna Nature CIC is a creative social enterprise with nature at its core. Our VISION is a world where all people feel more connected to themselves, each other, and the natural world.

Our MISSION is to increase people’s overall well-being through creativity, mindfulness and nature connection.

Our Values

We hope that our values run through everything we do, guiding our decisions and shaping the way we create meaningful, impactful work for the communities we serve.

We love working alongside others so that we can continually innovate and achieve a sustainable positive impact.

Using creativity in all its forms allows us to provide opportunities that enrich lives and inspire each other and our communities.

Ensuring that all our creative projects are shaped by the needs and voices of the community is at the heart of our work.

We value diversity and inclusivity, recognising that different experiences, perspectives and backgrounds enrich our society.

We believe in the importance of both people and the planet benefiting from each other, ensuring we give back as much as we take.

To help create a curious awareness in ourselves and others allowing us to respond to our experiences with kindness and compassion.

Our How

Nature Connection

We believe that our relationship with the rest of nature matters for our well-being and our survival as a species. Underpinning all our work is the need to rebuild our relationships with the natural world. We do this through nature-based practices such as forest bathing and our bespoke nature immersions.

Creativity

Creativity drives us, we offer high quality creative interventions including, photography, printing, creative writing, film and movement/dance. We consider creativity to be an essential part of life which can bring about many benefits including creating space to allow us to express ourselves emotionally, supporting our mental health to experiencing joy in sharing our creativity with others. The language of creativity and art is universal, no matter what your age, language, background or experience.

Mindful self-compassion

We are dedicated to transforming lives whilst uplifting our spirits and building kinder, wiser communities through mindful based practices. We deliver both the MBSR (mindful based stress reduction) programs and shorter mindful self- compassion courses.

Meet the team

We are a dynamic group here at Inna Nature, made up of creatives, freelance artists, nature guides and volunteers! If you’d like to help us in our mission, you can get involved here

Clare Donegan

Co- founder and Artistic Director

Clare Donegan is the co- founder and Artistic Director of Inna Nature CIC. She also works as a Forest Therapy Guide and mindfulness trainer. She comes from Dublin, Ireland and has lived and worked globally.

She currently lives in Hebden Bridge and spends time meandering through woodlands and creating work that assists people to reconnect with the natural world, and their creativity.


Visit Clare’s personal website for more information

Claire Deeney

Co-Founder

Claire Deeney is the co-founder of Inna Nature and presently works as the company’s administrator. She is a forest bathing guide and forest school teacher. She hails from rural Donegal, Ireland, and currently resides in Liverpool.

Claire is delighted to work with IN as she sees it as an important agent for change and to be a forward-thinking organisation. Previously Claire worked for nearly a decade in the NHS providing CBT therapy and support across the populace.

Thomas Sullivan

Director

Thomas Sullivan is a director for Inna Nature,  an anthropologist, editor, and translator. A former resident of Hebden Bridge, now based in Manchester, Thomas is passionate about local nature connection and bringing people of all backgrounds and traditions into global conversations regarding the earth.

Anna Chilvers

Workshop facilitator

Anna has worked with Inna Nature since its inception In the winter of 2022. She facilitates fascinating workshops focused on creative writing and expression. She has taught creative writing in further and higher education for over a decade. Anna is particularly interested in the links between writing, walking and the landscape. She has a PhD on writing and walking in woodland. She has three published novels, and a fourth, Orca and Bird, will be published in 2025.

Rachael Gorton

Workshop Facilitator

Fuelled by a belief in the transformative power of art, Rachael combines her independent art practice with over 15 years of experience in creative facilitation, working with diverse community groups.  Her workshops build on her artistic practice and adapt a wide range of techniques, projects and inspiration to make visual art accessible and exciting for everyone – whether exploring drawing, nature-based art, collaborative murals or creative textile arts.  Known for her vibrant, textured paintings which bring an element of nature’s energy indoors, Rachael’s workshops provide a welcoming space for participants to build confidence, develop skills, and discover the joy of shared creativity. Rachael is currently leading Inna Nature’s Growth Project weekly workshops.