About the Fund
The Brian Sellars Fund was set up to help financially support young people taking part in a wide range of adventurous, exciting and self-developing activities. To date, the Fund has made grants in excess of £120,000.
Alongside Scouting adventures, we’ve supported a wide range of challenging and character‑building activities for young people – both individuals and groups such as Guides, Schools and youth organisations.
The Fund believes that self-development, mental and physical progression and teamwork, are important traits for young people today.
Our objectives are to develop self-reliance, independence and self-confidence in young people and to respect the environment whilst doing so.
Activities supported include mountaineering training for leadership purposes, woodcraft and environmental projects, building amenities in third-world countries, involvement in local community causes, Scout and Guide Jamborees, outward-bound courses and other adventurous activities.
We consider applications to deliver adventure for young people up to the age of 25 and can award up to 50% of the cost of the activity.
However, there must be a connection with the area covered by the fund, which is all of Sheffield S8 and the Bradway area of Sheffield 17, either living, attending an educational establishment or being part of a voluntary organisation based in these areas.
Find out more about us and if you’re eligible and ready, apply today.
Previous grant examples
UK Projects
These include alpine skills courses in Wales, mountaineering courses in Scotland, indoor and outdoor rock climbing, forestry school, canoeing adventures, residential projects and Outward Bound courses.
We have also helped to fund the hire of adventure activities at district Scout camps — including zip lines, abseiling and other high‑challenge experiences.
In addition, the Fund has provided equipment that enables Scouts to take part in air rifle shooting, archery, fishing, stand‑up paddle boarding and Canadian canoeing, ensuring groups have safe, reliable kit to deliver high‑quality activities.
Overseas Projects
We helped to fund local Scouts attending the 2027 world jamboree in Poland. and supported participation in the 2026 Network expedition to Madagascar (£500). We’ve previosuly helped fund building wells in Kenya, the World Challenge Norway, the Scout Swedish Jamboree 2010, a building project in Botswana, the Schools Morocco Expedition (£300), an Environmental Awareness Volunteer Project in Nepal (£400), Outlook Expeditions in Morocco (£300), and a Guide Jamboree in Holland in 2015 (£250).
Who was Brian Sellars?
Brian was an active member of the 46th St Paul’s Scout Group throughout his life.
After suffering from polio as a youth, Brian lived an active life and did not let his physical issues hold him back.
On his death, his legacy was to support the youth of the area with financial help towards challenging and character-building activities that his disability prevented him from doing.
Following Brian’s wishes, his Executors asked Sheaf District Scouts to undertake the forming of a Trust to manage the funds – in compliance with his instructions.
