Local School Nature Grants

“So we decided to develop our entire curriculum to include outdoor learning, to help tackle some of these issues and improve the children’s experiences.”

“We’ve seen first-hand that, after Covid and lockdown restrictions, some of our children have developed issues with their wellbeing – confidence, communication and separation issues to name just a few,” says Andrew Neale-Crane, an early years and English leader at Yorkmead Primary in Birmingham. “So we decided to develop our entire curriculum to include outdoor learning, to help tackle some of these issues and improve the children’s experiences.”

Yorkmead Primary is one of thousands of schools across the UK that has looked to better its outdoor learning provision recently thanks to funding received through the Local School Nature Grants (LSNG) scheme, funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery.

What is the grant?

Running since 2017, the LSNG gives schools and early year settings across England, Scotland and Wales access to free staff training and £500 of outdoor learning equipment of their choice.

It is administered and delivered by outdoor learning charity Learning through Landscapes (LtL).

In 2021, the charity awarded 625 grants to schools and early years settings out of 6,500 applications received. LtL chief executive Carley Sefton says there was a huge surge in demand last year, with applications outstripping those of the previous four years combined.

How much is available?

Early years settings and infant, primary and secondary schools can apply for nature equipment up to the value of £500 and a two-hour training session delivered by qualified staff. Early years settings must have a dedicated building and employ at least five members of staff to qualify.

In 2022, there will be 900 grants available, a third more than last year.

What’s on offer?

Settings can choose from items in the LtL catalogue to spend their grant on. These can be tailored to best suit their learners and setting. Items include equipment, learning resources and nature products like birdboxes, seed packs and bee hotels. The list is available from https://naturegrants.ltl.org.uk/catalogue.php

The scheme provides schools with one two-hour training course from a menu of five options grouped by level, based on what will bring the most benefit to pupils. The training is delivered at the grantee’s school and is intended for staff not pupils. Details from https://naturegrants.ltl.org.uk/training.php

The training is outdoors and interactive or can be delivered online due to restrictions. There will be a choice of times and dates for training and handouts and follow-up information is included.

Up to 30 staff can take part, although 15 is preferred.

Advice for applicants?

The scheme is looking for settings whose learners are passionate about making environmental improvements for the benefit of their pupils, staff and the community. LtL wants to work with schools/settings that will make use of the equipment and training supplied by this programme.

The ideal partners will include children in the decision making and incorporate their local community.

How can they do this?

The fund would like to know how pupils helped applicants decide which equipment was selected. This could be through involving the student council and eco committees, surveying pupils as part of a lesson or based on a previous activity or consultation.

Benefits from a project may include a place for parents and carers to meet during the school run, visual improvement for visitors and passers-by, volunteer opportunities in using the equipment, or a community celebration of the changes made.

What are the deadlines?

There are four rounds of grant applications in 2022. The first is 29 April, followed by 17 June, 2 September and 11 November. Applicants will be notified of a decision within two weeks of the deadline passing.

Items will be delivered within three months of a successful application.

Feedback from schools?

Neale-Crane from Yorkmead Primary School says the outdoor learning environment has had a positive impact on reception pupils’ mental wellbeing. “They’ve made significant progress,” he says. “One child had suffered with serious separation issues, but now loves coming to school and is engaging really positively with his peers and his learning.

“We hope the children will continue to grow in confidence and overcome their communication issues through learning outdoors.”

• More from: https://naturegrants.ltl.org.uk/application/eligibility.php
  
  

FUNDING SHORTS

• The John Lyon’s Charity has allocated an extra £4m over the past year to grassroots charities working with disadvantaged children and young people in deprived areas of London. The extra money has helped support the sector through the Covid-19 pandemic and is in addition to its usual £10-12m of grant giving each year. Grants are restricted to nine London boroughs.

• Not-for-profit housing and care provider Octavia, based in central and west London, is offering grants totalling £100,000 to local charities and community organisations working with young people. Its Better Lives Community Fund supports small organisations and charities that provide activities and services ranging from emotional support and sports activities to stimulating opportunities for young people.

• A total of 92 community groups across the UK have received funding of £4.5m through the Platinum Jubilee Fund, which will help commemorate The Queen’s 70th year on the throne. Projects include The GRAB Trust in Argyll and Bute and will bring young people and the older generation together to reduce waste in the local area. They will share skills with each other that benefit the environment.

• BBC Children in Need has announced a new £1m programme – the We Move: Youth Social Action Fund – to empower black children and young people, through youth social action, working in partnership with BBC Radio 1Xtra. The fund is open to not-for-profit organisations who work with black children and young people aged 18 and under in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Grants of up to £50,000 will be awarded for up to 18 months. The application deadline is 20 June.