Dartmoor Preservation Association relaunches ‘Moor Boots’ grant scheme to help young people access the outdoors

The Dartmoor Preservation Association (DPA) has announced the relaunch of its successful ‘Moor Boots’ small grant-giving scheme for 2026, reaffirming its commitment to removing financial barriers that prevent young people from exploring Dartmoor and other wild spaces.

The initiative aims to ensure that every young person, regardless of background or circumstance, can experience the life-changing adventure of taking part in outdoor challenges such as the Ten Tors and Jubilee Challenge.

To reach as many young people as possible, the DPA is working closely with Ten Tors and Jubilee Challenge organisers to identify and address specific needs within teams across the South West. Team managers are now invited to apply for funding on behalf of their groups via the DPA’s website.

For 2026, the charity has also widened its reach, welcoming applications from organisations that help young people connect with nature such as Duke of Edinburgh Award groups, Scouts, Guides, Forest Schools and youth organisations. Taking part in Ten Tors or the Jubilee Challenge is not a requirement.

Last year, the Moor Boots scheme provided 76 grants across 12 teams, amounting to £10,000 in funding for essential outdoor equipment. The grants funded 40 pairs of walking boots, 35 waterproof jackets, 18 waterproof trousers, 15 base layers, 14 rucksacks, 10 pairs of waterproof socks, three pairs of gaiters, 15 sleeping bags, and even one pair of very warm mittens.

The DPA believes these grants help transform lives, enabling young people to train safely and confidently for outdoor challenges that build resilience, teamwork, navigation and survival skills, while nurturing a lifelong connection with Dartmoor’s wild landscape.

Tom Usher, CEO of the DPA, said: “Experiences like Ten Tors are transformatory. Caught at the right age and moment these challenging, developmental events can redirect a life. Everyone should have the chance of nights under the stars in our National Parks regardless of their means and background.”

He added: “We salute the tireless work of Team Managers who manage training, organise kit, drive minibuses and teach skills. This is the very best of teenage adventuring in the UK today.”

This year’s Moor Boots relaunch is being supported by the DPA’s Public Access Fund, created through the success of the charity’s National Parks wild camping campaign, which secured public rights for responsible camping on Dartmoor. Usher said this additional funding will allow “more young people than ever to test themselves against the challenge of Ten Tors”.

Feedback from previous Moor Boots recipients underlines the life-changing impact of the scheme.

Bideford College, one of the 2025 grant recipients, said: “Your support directly impacted a number of our students; providing them with the resources necessary to undertake this rigorous and rewarding challenge and will ensure the longevity of the Ten Tors and Jubilee Challenge training programme for future students. We are deeply grateful for your commitment to our school's endeavours and for your investment in the next generation of navigators and environmental stewards.”

Fowey River Academy, another 2025 recipient, added: “Ten Tors is a wonderful opportunity for teenagers but it often comes across as rather elitist; we aim to deliver the experience of training for Ten Tors as inclusively as we sensibly can. We are proud that young children at school now have the aspiration ‘to do Ten Tors’ and everyone is enthusiastic about the positive, life changing benefits that it can bring. One pupil stands out as having said boldly in Year 7 ‘I want to do Ten Tors’ but come Year 9, her mum told her that she could not, as the family could not afford it. We have discretely ensured that she can participate and are able to loan almost all the gear that is needed. A grant from Moor Boots for boots and new socks completes the package.”

Chulmleigh College also praised the initiative, saying: “We have seen growth in confidence and resilience, and seen positive behaviour changes in some of these pupils, and all of them love being out on the moor. Good kit is vital to success, and some of these families simply can't afford it. Special thanks to Dartmoor Preservation Association for the donation from their Moor Boots initiative, which has allowed us to purchase equipment for some of the children.”

The Moor Boots scheme plays a key role in ensuring that financial hardship does not exclude young people from outdoor education or the physical and mental health benefits of time in nature.

By helping more young people connect with Dartmoor, the DPA hopes to inspire a new generation of environmental stewards - equipped not just with boots and rucksacks, but with the knowledge, confidence and passion to care for the moor’s wild beauty for years to come.