New Grant Launched to help give young people access to the outdoors. Leading educational charity The Ernest Cook Trust is piloting a new grant scheme. Its aim to help organisations provide opportunities for young people to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature.
The Communities Grant aims itself at charities and non-profit organisations. It runs along the same lines as the Trust’s popular Outdoor Essentials Grant. That one’s offered to schools.
Under the pilot, the Communities Grant is currently only offered to organisations located in the Trust’s Gloucestershire hub area. That’s Swindon, Gloucestershire and Bristol (with postcodes SN, GL or BS).
Goals
The goal is to encourage young people aged from 11 to 19 from underserved communities to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature. Evidence shows that from around 11 years of age, children’s connection with nature can begin to decline. Also young people up to 25 years old for special educational needs and disabilities.
Successful applicants will get £500. They can put it towards travel costs to get to natural open spaces. Or to pay for kit like wellies and waterproofs for young people to wear. Lack of equipment and the cost of transport are barriers to young people getting outdoors.
Organisations can also use the grant to enhance or create nature areas in the local community. Things like ponds, raised beds or sensory gardens. Or to buy resources to help young people engage in the outdoors, like bird boxes or craft materials.
Suzie Paton, the Trust’s Director of Learning, Grants & Partnerships, said: ‘We’re very excited to launch our new Communities Grant. It gives us another opportunity to reach young people. In the same way that our Outdoor Essentials Grant has succeeded in giving schoolchildren living in underserved communities the opportunity to connect with nature and experience the benefits of outdoor learning.’
For more information about The Communities Grant, visit https://ernestcooktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/everything-outdoors/communities-grant/
