Grant aid for charities that connect young people with nature. Charity and non-profit organisations, that promote the benefits of being outdoors to young people, may apply for a grant.
Funded by Gloucestershire-based education charity The Ernest Cook Tust, the trust only offers the Communities Grant to organisations located in the Swindon, Gloucestershire and Bristol areas. That’s those with postcodes SN, GL or BS.
The grant aims to encourage young people aged from 11 to 19 (or up to 25 years old for special educational needs and disabilities), from under-served communities to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature. Evidence shows that, from around 11 years of age, children’s connection with nature often declines.
Successful charities can put the funds can towards travel costs 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 also identified as barriers to young people getting outdoors.
They can also use the grant to enhance or create nature areas in the local community. Such things as ponds, raised beds or sensory gardens. Or to buy resources to help young people engage in the outdoors, like bird boxes or craft materials.
The Communities Grant isn’t available for schools. But The Ernest Cook Trust runs a similar scheme that schools can apply for, called the Outdoor Essentials Grant.
For more information about The Communities Grant, visit https://ernestcooktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/everything-outdoors/communities-grant/
I am not sure if we qualify for this we have a community garden with raised beds of fruit and veg free for the community, Building a wild flower area is next on the agenda it is marked out just not done yet we are also building a hard surface for wheelchairs and raised beds for wheel chairs and we also want to make a sensory bed , we already have some people come to us with some disabilities and they love it there, But we are eager to get the rest of the improvements done .Every thing is done by donations and any grants we can get . All done for the community and wider area, some people come and just sit and relax in our lovely quiet and peaceful space. Our Space is called the Gap. In Carstairs Avenue.