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List of funds available to support outdoor education

The escalating crises present another blow for the most disadvantaged children who already experience reduced opportunities and increased barriers to participation. We are working hard to explore ways in which we can extend our support to ensure children don't miss out.

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Lists of support available for schools

Below, you'll find a list of organisations which can provide assistance with travel costs or equipment costs to support outdoor learning. 

Please note: Schools and groups will need to apply directly to the funder/provider. We will continue to update this page as more opportunities become available.

 


 

Royal Society of Chemistry - Primary science teaching empowerment fund

Tackle teaching challenges in primary science. Get to know and share knowledge with your fellow science teachers and technicians. Develop your leadership skills and strengthen your local network.

If you have an idea that will make an impact on science teaching where you are, the Primary Science Teaching Empowerment Fund can help cover your costs up to £600.

Find out more

 


Ocado Foundation For Good

Ocado Foundation for Good focuses its efforts in three core areas; skills for the future, natural resources and responsible sourcing. Supports projects up to £1000.

Find out more



Our Local Nature Grant

*Closing soon* - 22nd October 2023

Designed to provide young people with an opportunity to take the lead on projects that involve their local nature and natural spaces, to aid young people in realising their influence to affect positive change, to have their voices heard, and see their ideas come to life.

Apply online

 

The Ironmongers Company

*Schools are exempt unless they are a registered charity for children/young people with disabilities*

Grants up to £10,000 (avg. £4000) that provide opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people to fulfil their potential. The Company is looking for projects that deliver clearly defined educational benefits to a specific group of children or young people. Items of equipment will be considered only where a full explanation is given of how they will support this activity.

Visit the Ironmongers website

 

Magic Little Grants

Grants of £500 (six-week turnaround) for projects that; support mental health, enable participation in physical activity, prevent or reduce the impact of poverty, supporting marginalised groups and tackling inequality, improve biodiversity and respond to the climate emergency and improving green spaces and increase access to the outdoors. Schools are eligible to apply if they are a registered charity.

Find out more


Free Trees for schools - Woodland Trust

The Woodland Trust want to make sure everybody in the UK has the chance to plant a tree. So they're giving away hundreds of thousands of trees to schools and communities. 

Apply today

 

B&Q Community Re-Use Scheme (equipment)

B&Q stores have been donating unsellable materials and products to local community groups for many years. From paint to pallets and tables to tiles, our surplus and display items go to those who need them the most, to help build a stronger communities.

Find out more

 

The Outdoor Guide Foundation

For schools planning or wanting to set up an outdoor learning space or simply get kids outside in all weathers,  they should first consider the need for proper clothing – waterproofs and wellies.

Nominate your school for a donation

 

Bradford Cinderella Club

Funding for residentials for children living in the Bradford Metropolitan District.

Make an application

 

Tomorrow's Climate Scientists - Royal Society of Chemistry

Tomorrow’s climate scientists is an extension to the Society's school funding programme Partnership Grants. Introduced in 2020, Tomorrow's climate scientists aims to give students across the UK not just a voice, but an opportunity to take action themselves to address climate and biodiversity issues – to become the climate scientists of tomorrow. Schools can apply for grants of up to £3,000 to run investigative STEM projects in partnership with STEM professionals from academia or industry. 

Find out more

 

British Trust for Ornithology (equipment)

BTO Equipment Donation Scheme (EDS) supports young people across the UK by supplying them with equipment to make the most of their birdwatching experiences, and enabling them to further develop the scheme.

Apply for equipment

 

Contact your local LEA 

A number of LEAs are providing funding – particularly for children in receipt of Free School Meals

Find out more

 

National Lottery Awards for All

Ongoing deadline, grants between £300 > £10,000. This fund 'supports people, communities and organisations that are facing increased demands and challenges as a direct result of the cost-of-living crisis'. Schools are eligible to apply as long as your project benefits and involves the communities around the school.

Find out more

 

Alpkit Foundation | Alpkit

£50 to £500 cash to individuals, community groups, schools and organisations to encourage people to get outdoors and have great experiences that otherwise couldn’t happen; e.g. giving a cash grant to a school to fund transport costs.  Trustees meet every 2 months to consider applications. There's no limit to the number of times you can receive an award. If possible, please apply at least 3 months before the start of a project so that the trustees have time to consider it at their next meeting.

Visit the Alpkit website

 

Bernard Sunley Foundation

The Foundation supports improvements and new facilities at special needs schools and the purchase of new, adapted minibuses that benefit children with special needs and disabilities.

Visit Bernard Sunley

 

Blue Spark Foundation

We aim to help children and young people reach their full potential by supporting projects which have the following objectives: Encouraging Independence; developing team working skills & self-confidence; promoting creativity & individuality; encouraging aspiration; enhancing educational achievement; widening educational horizons.

Visit the Blue spark website

 

Children in Need

The people and organisations we fund will:

  • Work in the heart of their communities, particularly in times of crisis.
  • Put children and young people at the centre of everything they do, from design to delivery.
  • Address the challenges the children and young people face, build their skills and resilience, empower them and extend their choices in life.

Visit Children In Need website

 

Hedley Foundation

Raising the aspirations of disadvantaged young people and supporting youth projects through education, the arts, sport and adventurous activities.

Find out more

 

Andy Fanshawe Memorial trust

The AFMT awards grants to disadvantaged young people to develop an existing interest and experience in adventurous outdoor activities. This includes walking, climbing, cycling, kayaking, sailing, horse riding - either self-planned or for residential courses at an outdoor centre.

Visit AFMT

 

Learning Through Landscapes

This outdoor learning grant fund has two elements – a fully funded outdoor learning training course for your staff and £500 of equipment for outdoor learning.

Find out more

 

Greggs Foundation - Breakfast Club

The Greggs Breakfast Club Programme was established in 1999 to help primary school children get a nutritious start to their school day. Every school is provided with fresh bread from their nearest Greggs shop, and a grant to support start-up and ongoing costs. The average club costs just £3,000 to set up and run for a year based on 65 children.

Visit Greggs Foundation

 

Outdoors for All

Provides grants to individual persons and other organisations to provide access and/or opportunities to recreational and leisure time outdoor activities and experiences to children, adults, persons who are disabled either permanently or temporarily and persons with special physical or mental health needs. You can apply for a minimum grant of £500. Whilst there is no maximum value, we are most unlikely to consider applications in excess of £5,000

Visit Outdoor For All website

 

John Lewis

Community Matters is our charitable giving scheme that runs throughout John Lewis & Partners shops. You'll come across a similar scheme at your local Waitrose & Partners too.

Every 3 months each shop selects 3 community groups or charities to help. Customers are directly involved in deciding how much each nominated group receives, by using a token to vote for the organisation they'd like to support.

Visit the John Lewis website

 

Holiday Grants for Children - The Henry Smith Charity

The purpose of the Holiday Grants programme is to provide access to recreational trips or holidays for groups of children who experience disadvantage or who have disabilities. In particular we are interested in contributing to trips that would not take place without our funding. £500 – £2,500.

Visit the Henry Smith Charity website

 

Tesco Community Grants

Tesco Community Grants fund thousands of local community projects across the UK, helping to fight holiday hunger, tackle mental health, support young people, host community events and much more.

Visit the Tesco Community website

 

Grants4Schools

'Use our powerful grants database to search for grants from Trusts & Foundations, the UK Government, Lottery and the EU. Match funding opportunities to your requirements.'. This is subscription service it’s worth checking the news page and signing up to the monthly newsletter.

Visit the Grants for Schools website


Currently closed but worth bookmarking to check later.

 

Outdoor Essentials Grant

A £500 award to UK state-funded Primary and Secondary schools to enable them to get their pupils learning outdoors.

Outdoor essentials grant

 

Evolve Advice Get Out Grant

The Get Out! Grant is awarded every month for equipment purchase, specialist training, travel, resources with the focus on supporting pupils getting outside learning

Evolve Advice Grants 

 

IGAS Energy Community Fund

Supports projects that make a difference to life in the mainly rural communities where they operate (Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex, Lincolnshire). Keen to support community and voluntary organisations that are charitable, educational or benevolent in purpose. 

Visit IGAS website

 

Ford Britain Trust

Grants between £250 - £3000 to support projects focusing on education, environment, children, the disabled, youth activities and projects that provide clear benefits to the local communities close to their UK locations.

Ford Britain Trust