Outdoor adventure centre provider PGL will launch a Breakthrough Fund to give pupils the chance to benefit from residential outdoor learning trips, irrespective of their financial situation.
Schools across the UK will be able to apply to the PGL Breakthrough Fund which will support thousands of children from the lowest income groups to receive heavily subsidised, or in some cases even free, outdoor learning trips for their students.
Anthony Jones, PGL’s CEO, said: “Outdoor education shouldn’t just be the privilege of those who can afford it, especially at a time when more families are struggling financially.
“Every week I see children overcoming challenges that they never thought they could, whilst staying away from home for the first time without their parents. These breakthroughs are a life-changing experience that every child deserves and should receive.”
How does the Breakthrough Fund work?
The Breakthrough Fund will support schools by ensuring that access to outdoor education is not lost when family incomes and Pupil Premium funds are re-prioritised to cover basic education needs.
It will offer a range of funding support, dependent on the number of families in need of financial support at a school and will vary from:
- 50% of the total cost of a trip funded by PGL for schools with high level of students in need of financial support.
- 30 free residential trips available each academic year for primary schools in need of the most financial support, typically those with the highest levels of Pupil Premium, usually accounting for at least 61% of students. PGL will support such schools by providing up to 1,200 free spaces a year.
- Providing a range of funding support and free places for schools where the overall need for financial support across the student population is low, but, ensuring those children who do need support are able to experience the same opportunities as their classmates.
“Outdoor education shouldn’t just be the privilege of those who can afford it, especially at a time when more families are struggling financially.”
Anthony Jones, PGL’s CEO
PGL has been running a pilot initiative throughout summer 2023, with the intention of launching the Breakthrough Fund to schools in May 2024. Further details of how to apply for the fund will be released soon.
Along with its sister companies NST, EST and Studylink, hundreds of thousands of young people are provided with educational activity holidays, school trips, language courses, children’s activity holidays, sports tours summer camps and ski trips each year with PGL.
There are 19 PGL owned and operated centres in the UK, France and Australia, as well as a vast network of specialist partners across the world. The team has more than 65 years of experience creating educational visits with activities including high ropes, zip lines and water sports.
For more information about a residential with PGL, go to www.pgl.co.uk.
