How to nominate your child’s school for trip funding - and get other parents on board

For many children, school trips are the moments they remember long after lessons are forgotten. 

Whether it's a museum visit that suddenly makes a subject click, a trip to the coast, or an outdoor activity that builds confidence, these are often the experiences children remember most. But for many schools and families, they're becoming increasingly difficult to afford.

The rising cost of transport, accommodation and activities means schools are facing tough decisions about which trips can go ahead. At the same time, many families are already managing stretched household budgets, making additional school costs difficult to absorb.

Research from Hyundai's Great British School Trip programme found that 81% of parents believe no child should miss out on a school trip because of cost. Yet as financial pressures continue to grow, more children are at risk of doing exactly that.

📣 Nominate your child’s school

That's why Hyundai has opened its Great British School Trip programme to parents and carers for the first time. Previously only open to teachers, the initiative now gives parents and carers the opportunity to nominate their child's school for the chance to win a fully funded school trip. 

The prize is a hassle-free school trip for up to 32 students, including:

• A 1-night residential at an outdoor activity centre near you

• Return coach travel

• Food and accommodation at the venue

Parents, carers and guardians can nominate their child's school (T&Cs apply) by sharing why they believe their school deserves the opportunity to win a fully funded school trip. The process is quick and straightforward, and could help give pupils access to an experience that might otherwise be out of reach.

If you'd like to encourage other parents to get involved too, here are a few simple ways to spread the word. 

1. Start with why school trips matter

People are far more likely to engage when they understand what’s at stake. Rather than focusing on funding or logistics, focus on the impact these experiences can have on children. 

Hyundai’s research found that: 

• 77% of children said a school trip had been their best school day ever

• Pupils reported higher levels of curiosity, excitement and happiness on trip days

• Overall wellbeing increased by 60% and attention by 80% during school trips compared with normal classroom days

For many parents, those benefits are reason enough to support opportunities that help more children access trips.

When sharing the nomination page with others in the school community, remind people that what children gain from these experiences can be more powerful than talking about costs alone.

2. Keep the ask simple

We know parents are busy. One reason Hyundai's Great British School Trip initiative is so accessible is that nominating a school doesn't require a lengthy application process.

When sharing the opportunity, make it clear that taking part is quick and easy.

For example:

"Hyundai is giving schools the chance to win a fully funded residential trip, and parents can nominate directly. It only takes a few minutes to submit a nomination and could make a real difference for local children."

The easier something feels, the more likely people are to get involved. And parents simply need to explain in under 200 words why their school should be considered via the nominate page entry form.

Hyundai found that 81% of parents think no child should miss a school trip

3. Talk honestly about the challenges schools and families face

Most parents understand that times are tough. Hyundai's research found that nearly a third of UK parents have between £100 and £500 of disposable income remaining each month, yet the average overnight residential school trip costs around £412. For many families, that's a significant expense.

With schools facing pressures too, Hyundai's research found 83% of teachers identified funding as the biggest barrier to making trips happen. So being open about those realities can help parents, carers and families understand why opportunities like the Great British School Trip programme matter.

Ready to nominate? Parents and carers can find out more and submit their nomination here. Be sure to complete the form by June 29th 2026. 

4. Use the parent networks you already have 

Getting the word out doesn't need to be complicated. Many schools already have active communities where parents share information, including:

• PTA groups

• School newsletters

• Class representatives

• Parent Facebook groups

• Year-group WhatsApps

• Playground conversations

When sharing the competition with your community, consider including a short explanation of why your school would benefit. Parents are often more likely to act when they can picture the impact on children they know. 

5. Keep the focus on inclusion

School trips shouldn't feel like opportunities available only to some children. Most parents want the same thing: for children to have access to memorable experiences, regardless of their family's circumstances.

That's the thinking behind Hyundai’s Great British School Trip initiative, which has supported more than 210,000 children across the UK since launching in 2022. This academic year alone, the programme aims to help 50,000 children access school trips they might otherwise miss out on.

By nominating a school and encouraging others to do the same, parents can help give more children the chance to learn, explore and create lasting memories.

Most parents want the same thing: their kids not missing out.

“Trips can open up possibilities”

Matthew Burton, Headteacher at Thornhill Community Academy - known to many parents from Educating Yorkshire - supports the programme after taking part in the initiative last year.

He says:

"Trips can open up such possibilities, build confidence, spark curiosity and create lasting memories. No child should miss out on trips."

"We know parents, carers and teachers care deeply about this, so it's fantastic to now put the power directly into their hands."

And that's why opportunities like this resonate with so many families. For parents who believe every child should have access to experiences beyond the classroom, nominating a school takes only a few minutes and could help make a memorable trip possible for local children. 

About Hyundai’s Great British School Trip

Hyundai’s Great British School Trip is a programme designed to help more children access the educational and cultural benefits of school trips, particularly those from disadvantaged communities where rising costs can put these experiences out of reach. 

Since launching in 2022, the initiative has supported over 210,000 pupils across the UK, opening up opportunities to learn outside the classroom, build confidence, spark creativity and broaden awareness of future career paths. 

Through bursary funding, national partnerships and education-led activations, the programme benefits not only young people, but also teachers and schools by making enriching, real-world learning experiences more accessible.

About the author

Rebecca Roberts is a Leeds-based writer and Senior Content Editor at Mumsnet, where she commissions, writes and edits the no-nonsense stuff parents actually need. She’s also spent plenty of time in the PTA trenches, doing the unglamorous bits as Chair: planning fundraising events, chasing contributions and trying to make budgets stretch.