The It’s Great Out There Coalition has opened applications for the latest round of its grants programme. Backed by the support of coalition members, grassroots non-profit organisations across Europe can submit bids for #itsgreatoutthere grants of up to €5,000, with the potential for additional support in kind. The grants aim to fund outdoor activities by new participants that foster community engagement. Applications will be open until 28 February.
Launched in 2017 by the It’s Great Out There Coalition (IGOT), #itsgreatoutthere grants are awarded to help non-profit initiatives introduce young people to outdoor activities, especially those from disadvantaged or more diverse backgrounds. Every organisation that is supported by an #itsgreatoutthere grant follows IGOT’s Outdoor Activity Days (OAD) model, which is aligned to the latest World Health Organization guidelines on physical activity. By the end of 2024, the coalition had supported almost 60 initiatives through the grants programme, directly involving almost 9,000 individuals. In 2024 alone, IGOT supported nine projects in 2024, benefiting 760 people, facilitating 1,295 outdoor activity days, and committing a total of €36,950.
Once applications close after 28 February, all #itsgreatoutthere grant submissions will undergo a comprehensive evaluation, and then coalition members will have the opportunity to view a shortlist and endorse projects that they deem most deserving. Details of the successful applicants will be announced during March. In the past, members of the coalition have often provided extra support to grant funded projects, by supplying kit for participants, and sometimes additional finance. This maximises the number of OAD that can be delivered, getting yet more people active in the outdoors.
Annette Monheim, communications manager at the It’s Great Out There Coalition, comments: “Every time a grant recipient like Ludotempo sends us feedback from a project that has been supported by an #itsgreatoutthere grant, we’re reminded of the hugely positive impact that this kind of grassroots support makes. We’re really grateful for the ongoing backing of coalition members that is allowing us to embark on another round of grant giving, which will lead directly to more young people getting active in the outdoors for the first time.”
Aspiring applicants can engage in the process on the IGOT website HERE, and read the full grants guide HERE. IGOT has produced a special ‘call for projects’ information sheet, which can be downloaded HERE. The coalition is encouraging individuals and companies to get in touch if they have a project that they think could qualify for a grant, and to share information through their own networks, encouraging other organisations to consider applying for an #itsgreatoutthere grant.
For more information about the It’s Great Out There Coalition and the #itsgreatoutthere campaign, visit www.itsgreatoutthere.com.
