UPDATE: 27th Oct 2020
Further to the campaign to Save Outdoor Education in Wales, Welsh Government have clarified this morning that all WG funding is channelled via the Economic Resilience Fund, which was announced by Rebecca Evans on Friday 23rd October and is due to be launched on Wednesday 28th October. Below are links to both the announcement of an extra £10 million package and an eligibility checker.
ERF Phase 3 opening soon:
The ERF Phase 3 Business Development Grant is having final detail added and will open for applications this week (anticipated date Wednesday, 28 October – *this is tbc). Use the Eligibility Checker to review the criteria prior to its opening (https://fundchecker.businesswales.gov.wales/erfphase3)
Extra £10 million package to help protect jobs and those struggling financially:
Last Friday (23 October) Finance Minister Rebecca Evans called on employers to use extra Welsh Government funding to protect workers at risk of falling through a gap in UK government wage support schemes, as an extra £10 million package was announced. (https://gov.wales/extra-10-million-package-help-protect-jobs-and-those-struggling-financially)
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Posted 22nd Oct 2020:
Recently, WATO members have been working to raise awareness of the current plight of residential outdoor education centres who are suffering due to the continuing government advice against overnight educational visits.
Last week letters were sent to MPs and AMs asking for their support for a November review of COVID-safe health and safety guidance for residential school trips and for a roadmap for the phased return of school trips by the Spring term, allowing children, schools and parents across the UK access to valuable outdoor education.
We will continue to do what we can to support the outdoor education sector.