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Contacts & Information

The National Parks in Scotland
Cairngorms National Park Authority
Alan Smith, Outdoor Learning Officer
Cairngorms National Park Authority
14, The Square, Grantown on Spey
Moray PH26 3HG
Phone: 01479-870518
E-mail: alansmith@cairngorms.co.uk

Contacting Inclusive Cairngorms
Elspeth Grant, Social Inclusion Officer
Cairngorms National Park Authority
14, The Square, Grantown on Spey
Moray PH26 3HG
Phone: 01479-870506
E-mail: elspethgrant@cairngorms.co.uk

Contacting Rangers Services
Contact details for Ranger Services on
‘Enjoying’ page of the CN PA website at
www.cairngorms.co.uk/thepark/enjoying or
Pete Crane, Senior Visitor Services Officer
Cairngorms National Park Authority
14, The Square, Grantown on Spey
Moray PH26 3HG
Phone: 01479-870532
E-mail: petercrane@cairngorms.co.uk

Online links
main website www.cairngorms.co.uk
learning For learning opportunities in the Park
the link is www.cairngorms.co.uk/learning
useful information Click on ‘The Park’ section
on the website publications For a PDF version of this resource,
the link is www.cairngorms.co.uk/learning
e-bulletin 

Click on the e-bulletin button on
the main website to sign up for regular news
updates video For a video of the Cairngorms National
Park the link is www.cairngorms.co.uk/
thepark/video

map For a map of the area the link is
www.cairngorms.co.uk/thepark/maps
/map_medium.php

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park
Alison Wilkie, Learning Development Adviser
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National
Park Authority
Carrochan, Carrochan Rd
Balloch G83 8EG
Phone: 01389 722 125
E-mail: alison.wilkie@lochlomond-trossachs.org

Contacting Rangers Services
The Ranger Service can be contacted at any
of the following addresses:

Argyll Area Office
Ballochyle, Sandbank
Dunoon PA28 8RD
Tel 01369 705300

National Park Centre Luss
Luss Car Park
Luss G83 8PA
Tel 01389 722120

Callander Area Office
52-54 Main Street
Callander FK17 8BD
Tel 01389 722126

Loch Lomond Water Team
Duncan Mills Memorial Slipway
Pier Road, Balloch G83 8QX
Tel 01389 722030

National Park Centre Balmaha
Balmaha Car Park
Balmaha G63 0JQ
Tel 01389 722100


Online links

main website www.lochlomond-trossachs.org

learning Visit the Learning pages for
information in organising a visit with a school
or group at www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/
learning/

useful information Click on the ‘visitors’ section
on the website for lots of useful information
publications For a PDF version of this resource,
the link would be: www.lochlomond-trossachs.
org/looking-after/publications/menu-id-380.html

volunteering Visit the ‘Volunteering’ page
for information about the many volunteering
opportunities available throughout the National
Park and to contact the Volunteer Manager.
www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/lookin-after/
volunteering-in-the-national-park/
menu-id-384.html.

ranger service Visit the Learning page and click
on Ranger Service for their contact details
www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/learning/
contact-us/menu-id-128.html
map For an interactive map the link is
www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/
interactive-map.html

SNH
Scottish Natural Heritage
Main website www.snh.org.uk for general info
on SNH and its activities.

useful information Click on the ‘about SNH’
section on the website. For a PDF version of
this resource, the link is www.snh.org.uk/about/
ab-main2007.asp

To find out about NNR ’s visit
www.nnr-scotland.org.uk

Packaged experiences
ANPA
Educational materials for learning about Britain’s
National Parks www.nationalparks.gov.uk/

learning about
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
www.dofe.org

Click on ‘running the DofE’ section.

For a PDF version of this resource, the link is
www.dofe.org/en/content/cms/Leaders/DofE_
programmes/DofE_programmes.aspx

EUROPARC Junior Ranger
Programme
www.europarc.org

Click on ‘what we do’ and then the ‘junior
ranger’ section. For a PDF version of this
resource, the link is www.europarc.org/
what-we-do/junior-ranger

Fairbridge
www.fairbridge.org.uk

Click on the section under the ‘where we
work’ section and then choose Scotland for
information. For a PDF version of this resource,
the link is www.fairbridge.org.uk/scotland/

Forestry Commission Scotland
www.forestry.gov.uk/Scotland
Click on ‘woodlands for learning’ section for
helpful guides and information. For a PDF
version of this resource, the link is www.
forestry.gov.uk/website/fchomepages.nsf/hp/
Scotland

John Muir Trust and Award
www.johnmuiraward.org
Click on ‘about the award’ section. For packaged
experiences go to www.jmt.org/jmaward-home.
asp. For the website of the John Muir Trust
go to www.jmt.org For a PDF version of this
resource, the link is www.jmt.org/
jmaward-about-the-award.asp

The Prince’s Trust
www.princes-trust.org.uk
Click on the ‘need help’ section and go to the
Scottish page for lots of information on support
and potential funding opportunities. For a
PDF version of this resource, the link is www.
princes-trust.org.uk/need_help/in_your_region/
scotland.aspx

Venture Trust
www.venture-trust.org.uk
Click on the section under the ‘information for’
page that applies best to you. For a PDF version
of this resource, the link is www.venture-trust.
org.uk/

BTCV British Trust for
Conservation Volunteers
www.btcv.org

Information on volunteering opportunities
and training courses in your local area.

North York Moors National Park
This has a whole range of information on
how to package experiences for trips by
individuals of different ages and abilities. www.
northyorkmoors.org.uk/content.php?nID =25
YouthLink Scotland

Take a look at Youthlink Scotland publications
www.youthlink.co.uk/Index.asp?MainID =7270
Youth Scotland

Live It To The Limits provides ideas and activities
for projects looking at the natural, social and
economic environment www.youthscotland.org.
uk/resources/publications.htm

Schools

Teachernet

www.teachernet.gov.uk/ provides a range
of information and resources to assist staff
in schools to make use of the outdoors
when supporting pupil’s learning. Just type
in ‘outdoors’ in the search box on their
home page.

Eco Schools

www.eco-schools.org.uk/ provide a range
of resources and information to support
environmental education within schools.
Learning and Teaching Scotland

A selection of the best online learning
resources, specifically selected and organised
for Scottish education www.ltscotland.org.uk/
resources/index.asp?strReferringChannel=
ltscotland

GLOW

Glow is the world’s first national intranet
for education. It provides tools to underpin
Curriculum for Excellence learning and teaching
approaches. There is a National Parks Glow
group on the Outdoor Learning national site.
www.ltscotland.org.uk/glowscotland/index.asp

Grounds for Learning

On a more local level organisations like GFL
can assist you in making the best use of your
immediate school environment before you
venture out into National Parks and NNR ’s.
www.gflscotland.org.uk/

National bodies

Learning and Teaching Scotland -
Outdoor Learning
www.ltscotland.org.uk/outdoorlearning/index.
asp. Click on any of the sections for useful
information on outdoor learning from Learning
and Teaching Scotland, in particular the Outdoor
Learning Research menu which contains
publications and latest information.
Scotland’s National Nature Reserves
www.nnr-scotland.org.uk

Click on ‘find an NNR ’ section to see what is
near you. For a PDF version of this resource,
the link is www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/findnnr.asp

The Real World Learning Partnership
Provides a range of articles and information
as well as links to a number of organisations
supporting outdoor learning.
www.realworldlearning-scotland.org.uk/
index.asp?pageid=79340

Natural England

www.naturalengland.org.uk
Provides information on SNH’s sister
organisation, Natural England and English NNR ’s.

UK National Parks

www.nationalparks.gov.uk
Provides links to all of the UK ’s National Parks
www.nationalparks.gov.uk/learningabout

Scottish Environment
Protection Agency (SEPA)
www.sepa.org.uk

Click on the ‘about us’ section for information.
For a PDF version of this resource, the link is
www.sepa.org.uk/about_us.aspx

Transport

Community Transport Association
(Scotland office)
www.ctauk.org

The CTA is a rapidly growing national charity
giving voice and providing leadership, learning
and enterprise support to a wide range of
organisations delivering innovative and flexible
transport solutions to achieve social change in
their communities.

Transport Scotland

www.transportscotland.gov.uk

Click on the ‘concessionary travel’ section for
information on reduced rate travelling for some
groups. For a PDF version of this resource,
the link is www.transportscotland.gov.uk/
concessionarytravel

Traveline Scotland

www.travelinescotland.com

Click on the ‘plan your route’ section for help
in planning your visit For a PDF version of this
resource, the link is www.travelinescotland.com/
journeyplanner/enterJourneyPlan.do

Travelling around Loch Lomond
& The Trossachs

Getting to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs
National Park is easy on public transport from
Glasgow, Argyll and central Scotland. Train,
ferry, bus and coach services offer you great
value for money. Click on the link to get more
information: www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/
visiting/travel/menu-id-120.html

Cairngorms Explorer

Search online for “Cairngorms Explorer 2009
or go to www.cairngorms.co.uk/parkauthority/
publications/results.php?publicationID =148

Managing Risk

British Trust Conservation
Volunteers (BTCV)

www2.btcv.org.uk
Click on ‘search the site’ and enter the
keywords ‘risk assessment

Royal Highland Education Trust

Risk assessment templates and other
information is available from www.rhet.org.uk/
EZEdit/view.asp?MID =93;

Duke Of Edinburgh Risk
Management Guidance

Check out the following link for all kinds of
risk categories such as child protection and
volunteer checks www.theaward.com.au/
Risk-Management.html

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Health and Safety Executive guidance and
information for planning educational visits:
www.hse.gov.uk/services/education/information.
htm. Publications on Risk Assessments
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/raindex.htm.

The Institute of Risk Management

www.theirm.org

The Institute of Risk Management (IR M) is risk
management’s leading international professional
education and training body. The Institute
provides high quality education, training and
professional development in risk management at
a range of levels, from introductory to expert
Learning and Teaching Scotland

This section has a link to the Scottish Executive
Education Department’s useful safety guidance
for educational excursions. The individual
contacts should be able to help you identify
what you need to know locally and who
can help, support or advise you with safety
arrangements and risk assessment.
www.ltscotland.org.uk/outdoorlearning/
about/outdoorsafety/index.asp


Supporting Interest

The Institute for Outdoor Learning
encourages outdoor learning by developing
quality, safety and opportunity to experience
outdoor activity provision and by supporting and
enhancing the good practice of those who work
in the outdoors. www.outdoor-learning.org

Learning and Teaching Scotland

An up-to-date calendar of events and training
opportunities across the country, including
those run by Learning and Teaching Scotland,
local authority courses and events by a range
of organisations with an interest in taking
learning outdoors. www.ltscotland.org.uk/
outdoorlearning/professionaldevelopment/
index.asp. 

Key organisations supporting
Outdoor Learning in Scotland www.ltscotland.
org.uk/outdoorlearning/keyinformation/
keyorganisations/index.asp

All about CPD

All about continuing professional development
(CPD) and what it can do for you. Also
includes information about C PD Scotland,
its aims, and the tools that are available
www.ltscotland.org.uk/cpdscotland/index.asp

Children and Nature

For help on getting children and those
who work with children motivated
www.childrenandnature.org/

Destination Management

Organisations

In Aviemore and Deeside, DMOs are Scotland’s
first private-sector led destination not-forprofit
management organisations whose
activities are directed towards community
benefits from tourism. Both have evolved with
the support of public sector and community
interest groups. 

Aviemore & the Cairngorms

Destination Management Ltd is led by a Board
of Directors from local businesses driven by
their corporate social responsibility. Here is
the link to what they are rural.carnegieuktrust.
org.uk/rarp/sustainable_assets/aviemore_and_
the_cairngorms_destination_management_
organisation. 

Here is the link to the full
site www.visitaviemore.com. The Deeside one
is www.discoverroyaldeeside.com.

Outdoors equipm ent

In most areas voluntary and community groups
can hire outdoor equipment and clothing at
very reasonable rates. If you are looking for
items like camping gear, waterproofs, boots,
bikes, canoes, climbing gear, and/or outdoor
instruction, contact your local authority
or Outdoor Education Service for more
information.

Weather

BBC Outdoor Weather Site
www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/outdoors/weather

Magazines and newsletters

Cairngorms National Park Information

For a range of publications, newsletters and
to sign up for the Cairngorms e-bulletin, go to
www.cairngorms.co.uk.

Loch Lomond and TheTrossachs

National Park Information

For a range of magazines and newsletters that
will help you find out more about Loch Lomond
and The Trossachs National Park go to
www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/looking-after/
publications/menu-id-380.html

National Park videos and interactive maps
See more of the Cairngorms National Park
on video using the following weblink
www.cairngorms.co.uk/thepark/video/ or
click on the following for a map of the area
www.cairngorms.co.uk/thepark/maps/
map_medium.php

See more of the Lomond and The Trossachs
National Park using an interactive map available
from the following weblink www.lochlomondtrossachs.
org/interactive-map.html

Scottish Natural Heritage

To find out more about the publications
available from SNH go to www.snh.org.uk/pubs.
To view a copy of SNH’s quarterly magazine go
to http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/
snhmagazine/default.asp


Funding

The list of potential funding sources is extensive
and couldn’t be covered in full here; but the list
below should give you a good starting point
and encourage you to see just how many
funders are supportive of the kind of work
that you might like to do in the National Parks
and NNR ’s.

If you can’t find something below that fits
with your plans, then do check out one of the
main (and FREE ) online funder-finder websites.
Details are provided here:

Free Funding Website For
Community And Voluntary Groups
www.grantsnet.co.uk

GRANT net, a straightforward free-to-use
service from GRANT finder, can help groups
find suitable funding. It allows community
and voluntary groups, sports and other clubs,
schools, social enterprises and small businesses
to search across EC and UK sources including
Government departments, local authorities,
charitable trusts and corporate sponsors.

BIFFA Awards

www.biffaward.org/home
The Biffaward fund offers three levels of
support:

• The Small Grants Scheme provides grants
between £250 and £5,000 for projects
that enable communities to improve local
amenities and to conserve wildlife and
habitats.

• The Main Grants Scheme grants between
£5,001 and £50,000 for amenity projects that
provide and improve community facilities to
act as mechanisms for recreation, sporting
achievement, lifelong learning and community
involvement. In addition it supports projects
that increase or maintain biodiversity.

• The flagship scheme offers grants between
£150,000 - £500,000 for larger projects that
support regionally or nationally significant
voluntary sector led regeneration or
biodiversity projects to make a significant
impact on the quality of life of the region.

Email grant@rswt.org for details on the
Biffaward Grant scheme.

CSV Action Earth Campaign

SNH helps to fund Action Earth which provides
small grants to assist groups in carrying out
environmental projects. More details can be
found at www.actionearth.org.uk/

Big Lottery Fund Scotland

www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/scotland.htm

Click on the ‘funding’ section for information
on possible funding opportunities. For a PDF
version of this resource, the link is www.
biglotteryfund.org.uk/funding-sco

Carnegie Trust - Young Peoples
Grants Programme (UK )

The Carnegie UK Trusts Young Peoples Grants
Programme aims to support and promote
young peoples participation in decision-making.

Its focus is on involvement that is meaningful,
benefits all participants and leads to sustainable
developments in young people’s participation.
www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/

Cash-Back For Communities Fund

The CashBack for Communities fund could help
you increase youth work events and activities
in your local area if it’s an area of multiple
deprivation and the young people you work
with are between 10 and 19. More information
and application forms can be found at www.
youthlink-scotland.org/Index.asp?MainID =8276

Coalfields Regeneration Trust

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust supports
projects that help transform Britain’s
former coalfield communities. Grants
from the ‘community chest’ fund supports
small organisations while they are also
open to requests for up to £300,000 for
bigger voluntary, community and statutory
organisations. www.coalfields-regen.org.uk/
applyingforfunds/default.asp

Community Cash Awards

Young people aged 14-25 can apply for awards
between £250 and £5,000 to help tackle the
dangers of drugs, crime and play a positive role
in their community. The Royal Bank of Scotland
Community Cash Awards will see £1 million
of grants being distributed by youth charity,
The Prince’s Trust. Applications can be made at
any time. www.princes-trust.org.uk/need_help/
grants/community_cash_awards.aspx

Heritage Lottery Fund

The Heritage Lottery Fund operates “Your
Heritage” and “Young Roots” small community
grants programmes. www.hlf.org.uk/InYourArea/
Scotland/Pages/WelcomeScotland.aspx

Landfill Communities Fund

The Government saw the Landfill Communities
Fund as a way for Landfill Operators and
Environmental Bodies to work in partnership
to create significant environmental benefits and
to undertake projects which improve the lives
of communities living near landfill sites.
www.entrust.org.uk/home/lcf/finding-funders

Learning and Teaching Scotland

For help with funding sources for schools
www.ltscotland.org.uk/healthpromotingschools/
practitioners/makingithappen/
sourcesoffunding.asp

LEADER

The Leader programme is a European
Community Initiative for helping rural
communities improve the economy and quality
of life in their local area. Local development
plans are built around themes, defined by the
European Union. These include:

• improving the quality of life in rural areas;

• making the best use of natural and cultural
resources;

• and improving the organisational abilities of
communities.

Leader programme (Scotland Country Desk)
Phone: 01356 626490

www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/
support/17404/LEADER Scotland

Cairngorms National Park has its own Leader
programme managed by the Cairngorms Local
Action Group. www.cairngorms-leader.org/

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National
Park is covered by two LEADER areas. More
information can be found by using the following
links: www.argyllandtheislandsleader.org.uk/
index.html or www.fvl.org.uk/

Links Foundation

www.linksfoundation.org/Default.aspx
The Links Foundation funds a wide range of
community-based projects in the UK . All
applications must show the positive impact a
project could have on a community. There is
no set amount, but average awards are around
£20,000. Funding can be for new or existing
projects and can help meet capital and revenue
costs. Applications are considered 3 times per
year.

Paths to Health

www.pathsforall.org.uk/pathstohealth/grants.asp
Paths for All currently has small grant funding
available. Please discuss your ideas with your
local Development Officer before submitting an
application. Applications for small grants have no
deadlines and are welcome at any time.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation

www.phf.org.uk/default.asp
The programme’s objective is to support
innovative ways of increasing the learning
opportunities of people within the UK .

Scottish Arts Council

www.scottisharts.org.uk

Click on the ‘funding’ section for possible
funding options. For a PDF version of this
resource, the link is www.scottisharts.org.uk/
1/funding.aspx.

An example of the kind of funding available
from SAC is their Public Art Fund, which is an
open application scheme with no deadlines.

The scope of public art projects supported
has been broadened to include temporary,
permanent, cross-artform and multidisciplinary
work. The Fund is aimed at attracting original
proposals, from a broad range of organisations,
to produce exciting and innovative public
art across Scotland. To find out more about
public art in Scotland visit their website
www.scottisharts.org.uk

Scottish Natural Heritage

Grant Schemes

SNH has its own grant schemes which can
help to fund a wide range of environmental
projects. More detailed information on each
strand of funding can be found at www.snh.
org.uk Examples include: SNH helps to fund
Action Earth which provides small grants to
assist groups in carrying out environmental
projects. More details can be found at www.
actionearth.org.uk/ SNH Biodiversity Awards of
£250 support and encourage groups that carry
practical environmental projects, creating or
upgrading wildlife habitats or improving the life
of Scotland’s wildlife. www.actionearth.org.uk/
register250.php

sportscotland

www.sportscotland.org.uk

Click on the ‘sport in the outdoors’ section for
help and guidance and on the ‘funding’ section
for possible funding opportunities (especially
Sportsmatch). For a PDF version of this
resource, the link is www.sportscotland.org.
uk/ChannelNavigation/Topics/TopicNavigation/
Sport+in+the+outdoors/ and
www.sportscotland.org.uk/ChannelNavigation/
Topics/TopicNavigation/Community+sport/
Funding/Sportsmatch/

Scottish Community

Foundation Awards

Express Grants are available to community
groups looking for funding of up to £2,000.
The scheme has a straightforward application
process, and a short turnaround time.

Applications can be made at any time.

www.scottishcf.org/resources/news/view/66/
introducing-scottish-community-foundationexpress-
grants/

Support For Woodland Projects

Funding for local woodland projects is available
through the Local Forestry Challenge Funds.

Two funds are available: Woods In and Around
Towns (WIAT ), and Forestry for People. The
WIAT Challenge Fund aims to bring urban
woodland into sustainable management and
improve recreation facilitates by carrying out
an agreed programme of work. The Forestry
for People Challenge Fund covers all Scotland,
including the WIAT areas. It supports local
involvement in woodland projects for health,
learning and strengthening communities. www.
forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd7epeed

Scottish Community Foundation

The Scottish Community Foundation general
grants programme supports community
development activities. Community Grants are
one off sums of up to £5,000. The majority of
the funding is directed at locally based work
carried out, and often initiated by, members of
that local community. Applications from smaller
organisations that have an income of less than
£250,000 per annum are considered. Groups
can apply for either a Small Grant (up to
£1,000) or a Main Grant (up to £5,000).

There is no closing date for applications.

Check out www.scottishcf.org or email
grants@scottishcf.org

Voluntary Action Fund

The Voluntary Action Fund (VA F) is an
independent grant-making trust which
invests in voluntary and community based
organisations across Scotland. The funding and
support provided enables organisations to
undertake projects that challenge inequalities
and overcome barriers to being involved in
community life. VA F receives funding from the
Scottish Government to support voluntary
and community organisations in taking forward
social change. The grant programmes are linked
by the common threads of social inclusion and
support for organisations to become stronger.

Each grant programme has its individual
criteria and priorities as well as a direct link
to government policy. Check out
www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk