The Andy Jackson Fund for Access is a registered Scottish Charity SC038644 - a separate entity from the Scottish Canoe Association. It provides grant aid to projects which promote and protect access to water in Scotland for the sport of canoeing:

Principles and Goals

The principles and goals of the Fund are:

• Protecting Access
• Promote and protect access to water in Scotland for the population, by improving and enhancing physical access to waterways
• To advance the education and understanding of the public in the subject of responsible access to water in Scotland
• To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the water environment and Scottish waters for their own sake, for the inspiration they give to humanity and for future generations, by promoting good practice by those taking access to water, by bringing to public attention environmentally harmful practices etc. and by practical intervention
• Improve public participation in healthy paddle sports and recreation by both promoting education of responsible access and physical improvements to improve access to water

The Way the Fund Works

The Fund is run and administered by a Board of Trustees. The Trustees oversee all applications to the Fund for assistance. Applications are evaluated in relation to the principles and goals of the Fund

Income Sources

Funding comes from a number of sources including:

Scottish Whitewater Guidebook

Donations

Proceeds from Guidebook sales

A proportion of proceeds from Andy Jackson's biography - "Tall Stories"

Relationship to the SCA

The Andy Jackson Fund for Access has two connections to the SCA:

• The SCA Access Committee is the main point of contact for access issues relating to canoeing in Scotland. The Access Committee may apply to the Fund for financial help when addressing these issues
• The SCA may nominate some of the Fund's Trustees

How to Apply

In the first instance, applicants are encouraged to approach the SCA Access Committee. However, anyone can also apply to the fund directly. An application form is available from the fund trustees or alternatively via the SCA.

Their mission statement is simple, to:

"Improve places to paddle."

The Foundation welcome one-off or regular donations to help them continue their work, as well as legacy donations and British Canoeing member donations at membership renewal too. 

Over the last few years, the Foundation have awarded over £150,000 in grants to projects across the United Kingdom. These projects include:

• £15,000 to install a pontoon and floating environment close to the 2012 London Olympic stadiums in East London 
• £10,000 for the Gloucester Docks Activity Hub disabled waterway access regeneration project
• £4,000 to support disabled paddling with the Calvert Trust Exmoor
• £10,000 to support diverse communities and homeless charities discover paddling in central Cardiff
• £3,500 to restore Hoveton Wetlands in the Broads for paddlers to access the beautiful trails there
• £7,000 for funding repairs to the access point on the River Lough as part of the Stangford Canoe Trail

A number of small grants to clubs and organisations to carry out repair and restoration work to existing access points too

Read about more of the projects the Canoe Foundation have funded over the last few years here.

Applying for a grant

Canoe Foundation grant applications open twice a year for grants of up to £10,000 or more in exceptional circumstances. Applications are open to clubs, centres, parish councils and other local organisations looking to make a change to benefit members of the public/the wider paddling community. 

The latest round of grant funding from the Canoe Foundation is now live. If you have a project in need of funding of up to £10,000 for access and environment related improvements, you can apply for grant funding from the Canoe Foundation today. Applications for this funding cycle close at 00:00 on Tuesday 19th April, after the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. 

Apply for funding here.