Fund Information

Funding body: The Ernest Cook Trust
Maximum value: £500
Application deadline: None specified
Location: UK

Objectives of Fund

The COVID pandemic has demonstrated how important being outdoors is to the mental and physical well-being of everyone. It has also highlighted inequalities in people’s abilities to access the outdoors. Research commissioned by The Ernest Cook Trust has identified that transport costs are a key barrier for schools to access Outdoor Learning.

The current round of funding is for grants to be used for:

Transport & Travel costs to Outdoor Learning venues.
Nature & Nurture projects to create areas where young people can connect with nature within school grounds or within the local community.

Who Can Apply?

Applications are accepted from UK state-funded Primary and Secondary schools. This includes:

Any UK state-funded Ofsted Registered Primary, Middle, Secondary or High school
Any UK state-funded Special or Alternative Provision School
Multi-Academy Trusts, but applications must be made by the individual schools.

Priority will be given to:

Schools that are committed to enabling Outdoor Learning and see environmental engagement as an important part of education.
Schools who can demonstrate that Outdoor Learning has a wider benefit to families and their local community.
Schools with disadvantaged pupils.
Schools that are located in areas of high deprivation and/or have pupils who are living in challenging circumstances.