Funding for qualifications

The following are funding options, bursaries and grants with a particular focus on the outdoors, adventurous activities, walking, climbing and mountaineering. Numerous groups and individuals have successfully applied to these funds in the past to subsidise Mountain Training qualifications and skills courses as well as other outdoor education such as first aid or navigation courses.

If you are unsure which fund might be the most appropriate for your application please get in touch with maddie@mountain-training.org

For more general advice about how to save money while pursuing our qualifications, check out Mountain Training Money Saving Tips

For individuals

Mountain Training England Skills & Training Fund

Support for people from ethnically diverse backgrounds who face barriers to participation and are therefore significantly under-represented and less engaged with all Mountain Training qualifications, and skills courses.


Mountain Training Cymru Bursary Scheme (Wales only)

Awarded to candidates in Wales who face barriers to participating on a Mountain Training skills scheme or leadership award training or assessment course.


Mountain Training Scotland Bursary Scheme (Scotland only)

Bursaries to support candidates wishing to undertake a training or assessment course for whom financial constraints may be a barrier to participation


Mountain Training England Disability Training Fund

Financial support for people with disabilities, who are experiencing hardship, and who live in England to attend any Mountain Training course.


Mountain Training Board Ireland Training Grants

Mountaineering Ireland operates a number of grant schemes to support clubs and individuals undertaking Mountain Training courses.


Pure Outdoor Foundation (Peak District based)

“Building Leaders” project supports diversity in the outdoors through mentoring and grant funded skills and leadership courses. Open to anyone from an underrepresented group in the outdoors – grants available for groups and individuals.


Andy Fanshawe (UK applicants)

Awards grants to disadvantaged young people to develop an existing interest and experience in adventurous outdoor activities.


Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust (International applicants though courses UK based)

Supporting young people 18-30 to access winter mountaineering courses


John Muir Des Reubens and Bill Wallace grant (UK applicants with a Scottish interest)

The grant that gives people the opportunity to seek out life-changing experiences in wild places. Also see 2021 Rehna Yaseen application for successful community group application.


Kitsquad (UK-wide)

Suppliers of donated secondhand adventure gear to individuals/families in receipt of benefits to enable them to get outdoors wearing or using the appropriate gear




Other useful links:

Funding from Sport England https://www.sportengland.org/funding/

Funding from Sport Northern Ireland http://www.sportni.net/Funding

Funding from Sport Scotland http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/funding/funding/

Funding from Sport Wales http://sport.wales/funding--support.aspx

For organisations

Alpkit Foundation (International)

Small awards to people, groups and schools that work to remove the barriers in getting outdoors and experiencing wild places. Examples include kitting out community groups and supporting outdoor educational programs through grants for outdoor education such as Mountain Leader or First Aid training.


Pure Outdoor Foundation (Peak District based)

“Building Leaders” project supports diversity in the outdoors through mentoring and grant funded skills and leadership courses. Open to anyone from an underrepresented group in the outdoors – grants available for groups and individuals.


Kit Collective

Supporting community groups which aim to diversify the outdoors. Initiatives include providing kit and facilitating community engagement.


Gift Your Gear (UK wide)

Receive outdoor kit donations as a beneficiary.


Evolve Get Out Grant (UK- wide)

The Get Out! Grant is a £500 award open to UK Primary, Secondary schools, charities or CICs or micro businesses to enable them to get pupils learning outdoors




Other useful links:

Funding from Sport England https://www.sportengland.org/funding/

Funding from Sport Northern Ireland http://www.sportni.net/Funding

Funding from Sport Scotland http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/funding/funding/

Funding from Sport Wales http://sport.wales/funding--support.aspx