National Trails UK

National Trails UK is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1196805).

National Trails UK is a registered charity described as the membership organisation for the National Trails and the only dedicated advocate for them in England, Scotland and Wales. It promotes public health and well-being through the protection, improvement and conservation of the National Trails, and it advances public education about them. Its Test & Trial Fund has a pot totalling £70,000, split equally between two programmes, while its Shifting Perceptions grant offers £500 to early-career photographers from under-represented groups, with mentorship.

Priority Areas

National Trails UK works to protect and improve the UK’s National Trails, promoting public access, health and wellbeing, heritage and the natural environment along the routes. It works with Trail Officers, trail partnerships and other partners to strengthen the network and make trails accessible and welcoming, particularly for people who face barriers to nature and the outdoors. Its grants support capital projects along the trails that benefit people and nature, including coastal initiatives and nature-recovery work. It also offers grants and professional mentoring to early-career photographers from communities under-represented in nature imagery, to broaden how the trails and their users are represented. Its approach combines advocacy and partnership with practical project support, aiming to improve access, support nature-rich corridors and connect people with landscapes, history and wellbeing.

Themes

• Nature recovery
• Trail accessibility
• Coastal nature

Geographic Focus

England.

For the Test & Trial Fund, applicants need not be National Trail Officers, but must engage National Trail Officers in project development and delivery.

Deadlines: Applications close at a stated deadline.

Application windows:

• Test & Trial Fund: Applications are open now, closing on 6th October at midnight.
• Shifting Perceptions: Applications close on 15 February at midnight.

Who can apply:

• Test & Trial Fund: You do not need to be a NTO to apply, but NTOs must be engaged in your project development and delivery.

What to send:

• Shifting Perceptions
  • Supporting information, including the agreement from participants if you have it and your portfolio if you haven't provided a link on the application form.
  • A portfolio to demonstrate experience capturing landscape, people-led imagery and photo-stories.

What the charity says:

• Applicants concerned about capacity can contact the relevant fund manager to discuss support.