Creating safe, inclusive, and accessible environments is essential to delivering high-quality Scouting experiences across Nottinghamshire. To support this commitment, the Safety & Accessibility Grants provide targeted financial assistance to ensure that both our volunteers and our facilities meet the highest standards of safety, accessibility, and good practice.

Volunteer Training for Adventurous Activities

To maintain safe and well-managed adventurous activities, the grant supports training for volunteers, helping them gain the qualifications and skills needed to lead high-quality, risk-managed outdoor experiences. Grants of up to £500 per person are available, providing volunteers commit to using their newly acquired qualifications within both District and County events for the next three years. This ensures long-term value, creates a stronger volunteer skills base, and expands the availability of adventurous experiences for young people throughout Nottinghamshire.

Improving Safety and Accessibility of Property and Equipment

To ensure that the spaces and resources used by Scouting are safe, inclusive, and fit for purpose, grants are available to support improvements to buildings, activity spaces, and equipment. Funding can cover up to 25% of project costs, to a maximum of £5,000, enabling Groups and Districts to invest in measures such as:

• Accessibility adaptations (e.g., ramps, accessible toilets, widened doorways)
• Safety improvements or compliance work
• Upgrading equipment to safer, modern, and more inclusive alternatives
• Enhancements to activity areas to meet safety standards
• Improvements that ensure facilities can be used by individuals with additional needs

These improvements directly support the long-term sustainability of Scouting property, reduce risk, and help ensure that every member can participate fully and safely in Scouting life.

Long-Term Impact

The Safety & Accessibility Grants help future-proof Scouting across Nottinghamshire by reinforcing a culture of safety, high standards, and inclusion. By investing in volunteer training and accessible facilities, we:

• Strengthen our capacity to offer safe adventurous activities
• Improve the quality, impact, and reach of Scouting programmes
• Make our events and buildings more inclusive for young people and volunteers
• Support compliance with legal and safety requirements
• Enhance our reputation as a responsible, youth-focused organisation

Through this funding, Nottinghamshire Scouts is ensuring that our environments, equipment, and skills reflect our core values—providing safe, accessible, and enriching opportunities for every young person, now and into the future.

All applications must be made by Scout Groups or Districts in Nottinghamshire, authorised by the Group Lead Volunteer (if applicable) and the District Lead Volunteer.

Scout Groups or Districts serving more deprived communities are more likely to be successful applicants. Deprived communities are defined by indices of multiple deprivation (IMD). Taking public data across several different categories of deprivation across all parts of the country are grouped into IMD deciles. Deprived communities are IMD decile 1 to 3 ( about the 30% most deprived parts of the country).

• The County Grant Awards Panel (CGAP) is responsible for awarding and approving all grants and managing associated funds. It is responsible to the County's Board of Trustees (the Board) through its Finance Team.  The CGAP is chaired by a member of the Finance Team.
• Applications will be sent to the CGAP Chair, who will carry out an initial review of the application.
• If the CAGP Chair assesses that an applicant should be considered for an award it will then be reviewed by the CGAP. Where the Chair is uncertain about an application, it must be reviewed by the CGAP.
• The CGAP may decide to award the full amount applied or recommend a lower grant depending on the information provided by the applicant.
• If approved, the applicant will be informed and arrangements for payment will be made. The payment will be made directly to your group.
• If the application is not approved, the applicant will be informed in writing by the Chair of the CGAP.
• The decision of the CGAP may be Appealed once where an application is not approved. The County Lead Volunteer and County Chair will review any Appeal and their decision is final.
• Whilst Nottinghamshire Scouts will aim to ensure that grants are awarded consistently, the amount awarded may be reduced where a grant has many applications. In that case, priority will be given to supporting those who have demonstrated the greatest need.
• Nottinghamshire Scouts may refuse grants at any time – for example, if funds are exhausted.