Assessment of viable funding and income generating opportunities for the family

Tender description

Natural England (NE) is seeking advice to inform its discussions with Trail Partnerships in determining the approach to future options for the funding of the National Trail family including the England Coast Path (NT). Natural England also wishes to understand how best it can contribute to this thinking in terms of resources and expertise. The advice sought is on potential funding sources for the National Trail family to help fund both/either on-going management and/or trail and infrastructure maintenance. NE wishes to secure input from those active in and/or with expertise in the various funding sectors. NE and the Trail Partnerships need to identify on which potential funding opportunities to focus efforts from 1st April 2017 and how best to present the National Trails to take best advantage of the funding opportunities available. To facilitate this NE wishes to appoint professional expertise to provide a realistic and pragmatic assessment of the ability of the National Trail family to secure additional funding from known and new funding sources (see section 3 for greater detail). This assessment must include, but not be limited to, evaluation of and recommendations on: 1.Commercial sector funding opportunities, including sponsorship arrangements 2. Income generation opportunities including membership 3. Individual giving e.g. legacies, philanthropic funds 4. Funding from the European Union, international, national e.g. Lottery or regional sources, including government, and NGOs/charities