Funding

Setting up a Forest School does have financial implications; however there are many funding sources out there that may be able to help you. Some ideas are listed below. There are other funding ideas listed within the Environmental and Outdoor Learning Team website. This team also may be able to support settings in applying for funding, please contact us for more information.

 

Current Grants

• Ernest Cook Trust -  The Ernest Cook Trust gives grants to registered charities, schools and not-for-profit organisations wishing to encourage young people’s interest either in the countryside and the environment, the arts (in the broadest sense), or in science, or aiming to raise levels of literacy and numeracy.

​• National Lottery ‘Awards for All' - Award grants of between £300 and £10,000 for people to take part in art, sport, heritage and community activities, and projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community.

• Heritage Lottery Fund ‘Young Roots’ – Awards grants of £5,000 to £25,000 for projects working with 13 to 20 year olds (up to 25 for those with special needs) in finding out about their heritage, developing skills, building confidence and promoting community involvement.

 

Other Ideas

Core funding could be allocated to Forest Schools if it is used to develop certain key areas, for example the learning outside the classroom manifesto, extended schools requirements, sustainable schools agenda, children centre core offer etc.

Settings may be able to raise some money through charity/sponsored events. Parent organisations could be involved.

Certain things, such as tools and equipment may be donated from certain businesses, in return for acknowledgements. Alternatively businesses and organisations may be encouraged to donate money to your setting. Getting the local press involved sometimes helps to raise the profile of projects.

Site preparation and maintenance may be able to be added to your existing school grounds maintenance plan if on site, or the landowner may pay for this if using an offsite location.

Some site management work may be able to be done by volunteers. The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) can organise work parties to do certain jobs such as scrub clearance, coppicing, path and fence laying etc.

The Woodland Trust run a ‘tree for all’ scheme and provides free tree packs to schools.

When applying for grant money it is important to know exactly how much money you need and what it will be spent on. Below is a rough indication of some costs you may need to fund. However, still cost up your own project as each settings grant application will have its own needs and requirements.

 

Setting up approximate costs

• OCN Level 3 training £1200

• OCN Level 1 training £330

• Supply cover average £180 a day

• Set of 15 waterproofs, fleeces and wellies approximately £900

• Tools for Practitioner approximately £175

• Basic Forest Schools Kit approximately £180

• Advance Forest Schools Kit approximately £250 - £350

• Site management cost – tree surgery, brush clearance, tree thinning, planting scheme, access paths, fencing etc.

• Travel Costs to offsite location approximately £170 per trip