Access Unlimited is a coalition of leading not-for-profit school residential and education providers: YHA (England & Wales), The Outward Bound Trust, Scouts, Girlguiding, Field Studies Council and the 10 English National Parks.
Over the last 18 months, we have delivered Generation Green – one of largest and most impactful outdoor learning programmes ever delivered. Through new jobs, training, volunteering roles, residentials and outdoor and online learning experiences, the project provided more than 115,000 opportunities for young people to cultivate a sense of care for the natural environment. It is a model for how children and young people can connect to nature and outdoors to support their wellbeing, careers and learning.
But outdoor learning is under threat. Millions have already missed out on key formative experiences such as residentials and visits to blue and green spaces. And the pressures on schools, costs of living and the household purse means that more will miss out over years ahead. Charities and national parks are already using their own money – and that of generous donors – to help plug this gap. But we need government to match these efforts.
Response to the Dormant Assets Fund Consultation
There is the potential for a funding stream called the Dormant Assets Fund to support outdoor learning providers to ensure children and young people do not miss out. Government has asked for a response on how this existing fund could be used.
Case for support
Read the Access Unlimited case on why some of this money should be spent on learning outdoors.
About Access Unlimited
Formed in December 2019, Access Unlimited’s aim is simple: to ensure that there are opportunities for every child and young person to access high-quality learning and residential experiences in our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This was important before the COVID-19 pandemic, but is now more important than ever. Research has proven that school and youth residentials provide opportunities and benefits that cannot be achieved in any other educational context or setting (source).
Access Unlimited’s ground-breaking project, Generation Green, connected young people to nature, created and saved jobs, and helped build an aspirant workforce for a green recovery. Through our celebration and impact report (PDF, 4.6MB), you can hear from the partners, volunteers, apprentices, charities, groups, teachers and thousands of young people who were able to connect to nature through a wide range of opportunities delivered across England.
