We are excited to proudly announce a ground-breaking partnership with the Scientific Exploration Society (SES) with the launch of a new Award which will pave the way for young individuals from less advantaged backgrounds in the UK to participate on transformative Raleigh Expeditions.

With a long-standing historical connection to Raleigh International, the SES founded both Operation Raleigh and Operation Drake with Prince Charles and SES founder, John Blashford-Snell, CBE. With the new SES Raleigh Explorer Award, the Raleigh-SES partnership will open doors, break barriers, and foster diversity within the Raleigh community and forge closer ties with the SES.

How it Works

At the annual SES Explorer Awards the SES awards financial grants to individuals undertaking ground-breaking scientific expeditions. The new SES Raleigh Explorer Award will run for the next three years and will fund 15 young adults (17-24) from less socio-economically advantaged backgrounds to join a Raleigh Expedition. This includes seven places for 2024 and four places in 2025 and 2026.

The funding covers a 10-week Expedition to Costa Rica or South Africa, including flights. The volunteers, known as Venturers, will be encouraged to fundraise for items such as kit and travel to the airport. The Raleigh UK Society (RUKS), comprised of alumni from previous Raleigh Expeditions, will play a crucial role in the recruitment, selection, and support of award recipients before their Expedition.

Lucy Constable Fernandez, Managing Director of Raleigh International, says, “The SES Raleigh Explorer Award marks the start of our dedication to fostering inclusivity and diversity within the Raleigh Expedition community. We believe in the power of these experiences to shape lives and we are thrilled to embark on the journey of creating a lasting impact on young individuals who are enthusiastic about exploring the world, uncovering their potential, contributing to a global community, and emerging as the next generation of leaders.”

Generous Funding and Support

Underpinned by Raleigh International, the driving force behind this initiative comes from the generous support of Raleigh International alumni, including our esteemed founder, John Blashford Snell. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those involved.

If you would like to contribute to the Award scheme, please contact Jeremy Fish: raleighukalumnisociety@gmail.com.

We are now accepting applications for 2024 Award places. To find out if you are eligible to apply, visit SES Raleigh Explorer Award

This Award is just the beginning of our collaboration with SES and the Raleigh UK society. Keep up to date with developments by signing up to our newsletter.