Ernest Cook Trust

The Trust funds outdoor learning and environmental education for children and young people. Supported activities include school trips, habitat creation, play areas, biodiversity projects, and other nature-based programmes. Grants can cover equipment such as outdoor clothing, transport, training, project delivery costs, and, in some programmes, salaries for dedicated outdoor learning roles. Geographically, the Outdoor Essentials Grant operates UK-wide for eligible schools, while programmes for community organisations focus on Cumbria, Lancashire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Avon, and Leicestershire postcode areas.

The Trust welcomes applications from state-funded schools (primary, middle, secondary, and special) for its Outdoor Essentials Grant. Community organisations including registered charities, CICs, community groups, and social enterprises can apply for the Communities Grant and the Outdoor Learning Leader Grant. Priority is given to organisations and schools serving young people from underserved communities, including those in areas of high deprivation or with a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals. Schools that demonstrate commitment to outdoor learning and wider community benefit receive additional consideration. The Trust values equity, diversity, and inclusion in its funding.

The Trust does not support retrospective costs, political campaigns, organisations aimed at generating profits for private distribution, or activities that promote religion. For community grants, applicants without at least three unrelated people on their board or committee are ineligible. The Outdoor Learning Leader Grant does not fund posts delivered via an external contractor or posts that use the grant as match funding for a previously awarded position.

Grants are typically one-off awards, with the Outdoor Essentials Grant offering a fixed sum to schools. The Trust does not offer multi-year funding for all programmes, but the Outdoor Learning Leader Grant supports salaries on a multi-year basis and requires match funding. The Trust welcomes unsolicited applications for its open grant programmes and prioritises organisations that can demonstrate clear benefits for young people and their communities.