Applications received less than 6 weeks before the start date of the course applied for will not be considered.
The intention of this fund is to provide financial support to people with disabilities, who are experiencing hardship and who live in England, to attend any Mountain Training course.
Applications to the Disability Training Fund may be made by Individuals, Mountain Training course providers or Strategic Partners to assist with the delivery of skills or leadership courses that benefit individual people or groups with disabilities.
Mountain Training England aims to promote:
A diverse and active outdoor society, supported by inspirational leaders, instructors and coaches
Mountain Training England recognises the considerable barriers to participation in the sports of climbing, hill walking and mountaineering that are experienced by those with disabilities, and that this demographic is significantly under-represented in, and less engaged with, all Mountain Training skills courses and qualifications.
To help reduce these barriers Mountain Training has developed an approach to reasonable adjustments that supports people with disabilities to attend courses https://www.mountain-training.org/help/resources/support-for-people-with-additional-needs
You can read some examples of how our approach has worked here https://www.mountain-training.org/latest-news/supporting-candidates-with-a-disability
Eligibility criteria
Applicants can apply for up to 50% of the median course cost and a contribution towards the cost of a personal assistant support or teaching/learning support during the course.
The Equality Act 2010 defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ effect on a person’s ability to do normal daily activities.
- Applicants must live in England.
- Applicants may be in receipt of personal independence payment or some other form of disability support. Not being in receipt of support doesn’t mean you can’t apply.
- Applicants identify the nature of their disability – physical, sensory, cognitive, social skills difficulties, other.
- Applicants identify what they are seeking assistance with – course costs, personal assistant support, teaching & learning support, other.
- Applicants state why they are applying for funding, how will the fund benefit them and/or the groups they work with, their aspirations/goals, how the course will help them achieve their aspirations.
- If applying for qualification courses applicants must register on the relevant qualification and have the required minimum personal experience entered in the digital logbook.
What’s included in our offer
- A percentage of the course cost (see Median Course Costs)
- A contribution towards personal assistance support (capped at £150 per candidate per course)
- A contribution towards learning/teaching support (capped at £150 per candidate per course)
What’s not included in our offer:
- The registration fee – this a one-off fee for each qualification. It is the only fee candidates pay to Mountain Training. The registration fee pays for quality assurance and the maintenance and development of the Candidate Management System and Digital Logbook. There is no registration fee for the skills schemes.
- First aid courses – having a first aid qualification is a requirement of assessment courses. The cost of attending a first aid course is not included in our offer.
- Travel, accommodation and food costs during the course.
- Climbing wall entry fees, if applicable.
How to apply
Complete the application form.
Applications received less than 6 weeks before the start date of the course applied for will not be considered.
Grants will be paid on completion of the course applied for (irrespective of outcome) and receipt of a completed course evaluation and claim form.
Screening and approval process
Applications can be made at any time.
We aim to respond with a decision within 4 weeks of the date of application.
Once granted, the course applied for must be attended within the timeframe given in the application. Course evaluations must be submitted within two weeks of the course date.
Median course costs
Mountain Training course providers set their own course costs.
Course costs vary depending on whether courses are residential or non-residential and other factors such as kit hire and transport. With the aim of making access to funding as equitable as possible we award up to 50% of the median course cost. Median course costs are calculated annually.
Course type | Median course cost |
Hill Skills | £130 |
Mountain Skills | £145 |
Rock Skills Introduction | £80 |
Rock Skills Intermediate | £170 |
Rock Skills Learn to Lead Sport Climbs | £215 |
Rock Skills Learn to Lead Trad Climbs | £222.50 |
Indoor Climbing Assistant | £79 |
Climbing Wall Instructor training | £160 |
Climbing Wall Instructor assessment | £110 |
Abseil Module training | £55 |
Abseil Module assessment | £55 |
Climbing Wall Development Instructor training | £117 |
Climbing Wall Development Instructor assessment | £117 |
Rock Climbing Instructor training | £239 |
Rock Climbing Instructor assessment | £189.50 |
Rock Climbing Development Instructor training | £400 |
Rock Climbing Development Instructor assessment | £397.50 |
Foundation Coach training | £100 |
Foundation Coach assessment | £100 |
Development Coach training | £189.50 |
Development Coach assessment | £200 |
Camping Leader | £95 |
Lowland Leader training | £155 |
Lowland Leader assessment | £157.50 |
Hill and Moorland Leader training | £240 |
Hill and Moorland Leader assessment | £250 |
Mountain Leader training | £410 |
Mountain Leader assessment | £412.50 |