Our Charitable Trust
Since 2000, we’ve given more than £5 million to our Charitable Trust, which in turn uses the money to support a wide range of walking-related activities for people from all communities, with funds are directed towards improving access to the great outdoors for all.
The focus of the trust’s recent financial support is Britain’s leading walking charity, The Ramblers, and its role in promoting the benefits and importance of walking to the British public.
The Ramblers has achieved a huge amount over many years of campaigning for walkers’ access rights and we’re proud to have stood alongside them in this work and given many millions of pounds to assist with their valuable achievements. Our current support, to the value of £400,000, is focused on The Ramblers 'Don't Lose Your Way' campaign, the UK’s biggest ever footpath survey.
The trustees are also keenly aware of the trust’s objectives to help all people gain a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside. In acknowledgement of this, the trust has recently expanded its grant allocation policy to include a small grants scheme.
Small grants made recently have supported the footpath network in the UK include signage for heritage walks in the Vale of Snaith and footpath improvements along the Stour Valley Way near Gillingham, Dorset. Other grants awarded provided support the Cotswold Way Association in developing their website, and woodland exploration weekends in Scotland.
Our most recent funding was launched last month, agreeing a partnership with Mind Over Mountains. Mind Over Mountains believes in restoring mental health naturally and offers support in the UK through therapeutic outdoor experiences. Over the next three years, our Trust will provide bursaries for individuals to experience Mind Over Mountains’ wellbeing walks and weekend retreats where they’ll have unpressured time to ramble and talk with professionals.
Click here for more information about our trust and the work we support.