Thanks to a generous grant from The Gatsby Charitable Foundation, Cambridge University Botanic Garden is offering a new travel grant for all state schools from Cambridgeshire and the surrounding counties.
The cost of transport has long been a barrier to school trips and this problem has only grown in recent years, often preventing schools from being able to afford to visit the Garden at all. This grant will remove this barrier and enable more students, regardless of their background or financial situation, to enjoy engaging and fun trips outside of the classroom.
“We’re very grateful to the Gatsby Charitable Foundation; their generous grant is letting us achieve a long-held ambition to support schools with the cost of transport to the Garden.”
The program launches in October and will cover the travel costs of any state schools coming to the Garden for a taught workshop from Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire and is applicable for all visits from January 2024.
The Gatsby Schools Visit Grant also offers an additional level of support with free workshops for schools with an above average percentage of pupils qualifying for the pupil premium grant (a source of funding that is given to schools by the Government to help improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils) – making their visit totally free of charge.
While CUBG offers imaginative learning opportunities for all ages from early years to higher education, this grant will specifically support children from Early Years to Key Stage 5 and will allow a greater number of schools to enjoy exciting curriculum linked workshops led by a team of expert staff and volunteers.
To find out more about educational visits to the Garden, please visit our Learning pages.
