Fund for Change
For every person that holidays with Steppes Travel we set aside £100. A portion goes to World Land Trust to offset your flights, 50% of what’s left is split between: Seawilding, The Long Table and Steppes Fund For Female Guides. The rest? You choose.
Vote for your favourite project
In addition to Seawilding, The Long Table and Steppes Fund For Female Guides we're supporting 3 projects that seek to make our world a better place. Your vote will influence the support each of these 3 projects receives.
Wolf protection
Promoting coexistence between human activities and the presence of the wolf
Seagrass and mangrove restoration
Planting and protecting seagrass meadows and mangrove propagules to sequester carbon
Solar energy Africa
Distributing solar lights throughout Africa for people living without electricity
Oyster & seagrass restoration
Seawilding - a community-led native oyster and seagrass restoration project
The Long Table
Making wholesome food available to everyone regardless of financial background
Steppes Fund for Female Guides
Equipping women with knowledge and skills to pursue a career as a guide
Our Steppes Fund for Change Projects
3 game changing projects seeking to challenge the status quo. Learn about them, choose your favourite and lend them your support
Wolf Protection - I Am Not Afraid of the Wolf
Io non ho paura del lupo, or "I am not afraid of the wolf" in English, is an Italian charity organisation whose aim is to ensure the conservation of the wolf in Italy and Europe and its coexistence with human activities. The organisation carries out various initiatives dedicated to mitigating the conflict between wolves and stakeholders, disseminating information on the issue and combating misinformation about this fascinating predator of our forests. It brings together farmers, breeders, simple enthusiasts and nature professionals for the protection of nature and its inhabitants.
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Seagrass and mangrove restoration Puerto Rico
Seagrass is a wonder plant. It takes carbon from the atmosphere up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests. Sadly, seagrass, which is found in shallow waters of coastal regions, has been declining globally at a rate of about 7% a year since 1990 – we must reverse this trend. Planting and protecting seagrass meadows is one of the most effective ways we can tackle climate change. Mangroves another critical "blue carbon" ecosystem, store up to five times as much carbon, in their biomass and soils, as tropical upland forests. Mangroves - estimated since the 1950's to have decreased globally by 50% due to land use changes - are critical to protect and restore with a diverse array of holistic benefits to coastal habitats; acting as biodiversity hotspots with a vibrant array of species from shellfish to fish species finding shelter amongst their roots as juveniles. Whilst they are key to adaptation and resilience from increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change, acting as natural barriers and stabling coastlines.
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Solar energy sub-Saharan Africa
Sunshine is in abundance in Africa but when the sun goes down the working day ends for millions of people. For millions of others the only option is to ignite kerosene lamps and paraffin candles, which emit toxic fumes into their lungs and into the earth’s atmosphere. SolarAid is working to deliver clean, safe, and affordable solar lights to rural communities across sub-Saharan Africa, reaching the places no one else goes to.
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Native oyster and seagrass restoration - Scotland
Seawilding, based at Loch Craignish, Argyll is the UK's first community-led native oyster and seagrass restoration project. Their aim is to restore lost biodiversity, sequester carbon, and create green jobs. They are pioneering low-cost, best-practice marine habitat restoration methodologies and empowering other coastal communities to do the same.
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The Long Table
According to the UN World Food Program, one-third of all food grown and produced is never eaten, which, according to Our World in Data, generates 6% of human-generated, global greenhouse gas emissions. This was the spark that lit the fire for a community-based, social enterprise called The Long Table. Based in our own local community, just outside Stroud, the aim of The Long Table is to make locally sourced, wholesome food available to everyone, regardless of their social or financial background.
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Steppes Fund for Female Guides
As a tour operator running holidays in some of the world’s more deprived regions, we strive to leave a positive social footprint in our host communities. Our aim is to provide women with access to training, equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to pursue a fulfilling and prosperous career as a guide. We prioritise this, in the knowledge that economic growth and social development are more likely to flourish where women are empowered to fully participate in labour forces. When given the opportunity, women are effective agents of change in combatting the climate crisis. We are also mindful of what a difference a good guide can make to the enjoyment of your holiday. And we know that in countries where women are already fulfilling the role of guide, they are among some of our clients favourite travelling companions.
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