Christmas Challenge 2025
We are so pleased to have taken part in the Big Give – Christmas Challenge 2025 for the first time this year. Kicking off on #GivingTuesday, all donations made between 2nd December and 9th December 2025 were doubled! Double the donations means double the impact!
“Inspire a new generation of nature protectors”
We have reached our target, and the challenge is now closed. Thank you for supporting outdoor education opportunities for disadvantaged learners.
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How does the The Big Give Christmas Challenge Fund work?
The Christmas Challenge utilises our Pledge Model of match funding. This model allows supporters of participating charities to have their donations doubled with match funds provided by the charity’s own supporters (pledgers) and Big Give’s Champion partners.
To take part, a charity must secure a portion of their match funding pot from their pledgers. If eligible, they can be awarded up to the same amount again from a Champion funder, creating a combined match pot which is used to double public donations made through Big Give’s platform during the campaign week.
How will my donation be used?
This campaign is contributing to our Grants for Schools programme, and Young Darwin Scholarships. , Over 10 years, we’ve helped hundreds of schools with nearly half a million pounds of subsidies. In 2023 we were only able to fund a quarter of the applications we received, and we are expecting demand to increase due to the cost-of-living crisis, so we are very keen to use every opportunity available to add more to the fund.
By raising £35,400 we will be able to provide:
- Two-night residential trips to our Field Studies centres for 90 young people. These school trips combine curriculum-based learning with outdoor activities and time for personal reflection. Given to schools with high indicators of disadvantage. Ages 7-18 years.
- One-day outdoor learning experiences at our centres for 90 young people as part of a school group. Linked to national curriculum. Given to schools with high indicators of disadvantage, i.e. pupils receiving free school meals. Ages 5-18 years.
- 20 subsidised places on our “Young Darwin Scholarships” programme. Immersive week-long courses for young people aged 16-25, teaching field skills including identifying, observing, recording flora and fauna in a range of habitats with post-course support and career advice.
Campaign Budget
- £20,250 – 90 two-night residential trips to our field centres
- £3,150 – 90 one-day educational trips to our field centres
- £17,200 – 20 places on our Young Darwin Scholarships programme
- £200 – To support travel costs for those who need additional support
Understanding the Target
This is not an all-or-nothing project, we will provide as many subsidised places as we raise money for. Our bursaries are always oversubscribed and we maximise the places with different sized groups. Our Foundation is an ongoing fundraising initiative, with most of the money raised from public fundraising providing these subsidised places. Our supporters understand where their money will be going and believe in our mission with no plans to end this project.
What will the impact of your work be?
We expect attendees to report:
• Increased understanding of environmental issues and field work
• A greater connection to nature
• Improved mental wellbeing
• Greater confidence, resilience, teamwork and communication skills
This in turn which will lead to:
• More people with skills required in the green economy
• More people addressing biodiversity loss and climate change
• Better health outcomes leading to cost savings for health services
• Attendees feeling able to overcome other challenges in their lives