The Ernest Cook Trust's journey towards place-focused funding

Editor Emily Burt is joined by Ed Ikin, chief executive of the Ernest Cook Trust, an educational charity and funder that cares for 9,000 hectares of land across six UK counties and delivers outdoor learning to 4,000 young people every year. They discuss how the history of the trust is shaping its approach to grantmaking, as the organisation begins the process of adopting a place-focused approach to its partnerships. Ed outlines a “proof of concept” for making the organisation’s unique mix of assets fulfil a clear role in its founding goal of providing education. And he emphasises the value of open, respectful communication with charity partners as the trust works through the exploratory stages of shifting its model.