5 min read

NTUK procurement - Paths to inclusion research tender now open

Written by
Published on
July 16, 2026

Invitation to Tender – Research Partner

National Trails UK (NTUK) is seeking an experienced research partner to support the research, scoping and pilot phase of our Paths to Inclusion project.

What is Paths to Inclusion?

Paths to Inclusion is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, Paths to Inclusion is designed to address information barriers that prevent disabled people and people from minoritised ethnic communities from visiting and experiencing National Trails. The project is exploring how NTUK can work with Trail managers, community partners and target audiences to co-design and test more inclusive content, information and communications approaches.

What is the research procurement opportunity?

Working with NTUK and our four delivery partners (Black Trail Runners, Experience Community Interest Company (CIC), East and South East Asian Outdoors, and Open Country), the successful organisation will co-design and deliver a programme of research to inform how National Trails and their partners can create inclusive, engaging, accessible and user-led content that enables more people from underrepresented communities to access and enjoy National Trails.

The research will include:

• Desk-based research into best practice

• Research with target audiences to understand awareness, perceptions, motivations and barriers

• A skills audit of National Trail content creators

• Collaborative design and testing of content and engagement approaches

The appointed research partner will produce:

• A recommendations report for NTUK and the National Trails network

• A National Trails blueprint for the wider sector

• An editable access project map

Deadline for submissions: 30th July, sent to rob@nationaltrails.uk

For full information, please see the Invitation to Tender.

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