BMC Access & Conservation Trust

The BMC's Access and Conservation Trust (ACT) funds projects to protect our cliffs and mountains.

It aims to promote sustainable access to cliffs, mountains and open countryside by facilitating education and conservation projects across the United Kingdom and Ireland.

ACT is a charitable trust established by the British Mountaineering Council in 2001.  ACT allows tax efficient donations to be made using Gift Aid.

ACT aims to:

• Support rural access and conservation projects that protect access and promote sustainable use
• Educate and raise awareness of conservation issues
• Inform people about areas of ecological sensitivity
• Research the benefits and impacts of mountain recreation and tourism
• Train and support access and conservation volunteers

ACT will fund:

• Landscape Site Based Work
• Campaigns and Policy Development
• Rural Development Initiatives
• Sustainable Transport Initiatives
• Information Resources & Publications
• Research
• Training & Support for Access Volunteers

ACT funds a wide range of projects encompassing policy-related work, literature production and large-scale environmental projects.  For example, by supporting  practical site based work (e.g. footpath construction, fencing, stiles, signs, ecological surveys) and rural development initiatives (e.g. projects to encourage climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers to contribute more to local economies in mountain areas).  ACT also funds sustainable transport initiatives and provides high quality access and conservation information to the public (e.g. good practice publications).  

See a list of projects that ACT has funded in previous years. 

Suggest a project
Have you got an idea for a project in the UK or Ireland? From local footpath work to national consultations, ACT might be able to help. Let us know.

Download an application form here and email cath@thebmc.co.uk

ACT research grants
In 2011, the BMC reserach grant was set up to help fund research by postgraduate students into environmental issues surrounding climbing, hill walking and mountaineering.  These research grants are funded by ACT. 

Find out more about the ACT research grants

Supporting ACT
ACT gives you the opportunity to show your commitment to the outdoor environment.

Donate online and support the worthwhile projects that ACT funds

You can also donate when you renew your BMC membership. Additionally if you are thinking of making a will, why not let the conservation of our uplands be your legacy.  For further infomation email cath@thebmc.co.uk

Thank you for your support!

Where does the ACT money come from?
From a number of places including individuals, companies, outdoor centres, climbing walls and clubs. As ACT is a registered charity, donors can take advantage of tax initiatives and incentives.

Who decides how to spend the money?
The trustees comprise of access and conservation experts from around the country. They have experience and understanding of the needs of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers. It is their role to select suitable projects to support across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to get the maximum benefit from donations received from contributors

What are the main differences between ACT and the Crag Care Fund?
The Crag Care Fund exists to help support projects that directly benefit the crags, with the emphasis being on practical work.  The main differences are:

• Scale: ACT will aim to support larger projects with greater financial contributions.
• Geographical Coverage: ACT supports projects throughout the whole of the British Isles with a landscape and regional focus.
• Objectives: ACT aims to support a broader range of projects than the Crag Care Fund. Projects will focus on the sustainable use and conservation of the outdoor environment. 
• Legal Status: ACT is a charitable Trust making gift donations etc much more straightforward and tax efficient. 

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