A new fund has been launched to help adventure travellers finance their trips. The #GetOutDoStuff Adventure Travel Grant is being run by Matt Bishop and Reece Gilkes, the Sidecar Guys, famous for riding a Honda scooter sidecar outfit around the world in 2018/19. They also run the Armchair Travel Festival, which takes place every August at Mount Edgecumbe Country Park near Plymouth.

#GetOutDoStuff is in memory of David Martin, the motorcycle adventure traveller who tragically died of bowel cancer in 2021. After being diagnosed in 2016, between chemotherapy rounds he took off on his bike whenever he was fit enough, riding Lands End to John o’ Groats, through the Alps and Croatia, as well as exploring Iceland.

£1666 was raised for the new fund at this year’s Armchair Travel Festival, which has been tripled to £4998 by the Change Your World Fund, which was set up in memory of Alistair Farland.

#GetOutDoStuff will open for applications in October with a closing date is 31st December 2023. “We’re now working with David Martin’s family and friends to assemble a panel who will make the call on who gets funding,” said Matt Bishop. Proposed trips will need to meet a number of criteria, including raising money for a good cause, inspiring others and being environmentally and socially conscious.

the Sidecar Guys YouTube video introducing the grant can be found here

Jim Freeman, chair of the BMF, said: “Wonderful idea, it could enable keen travellers without the deep pockets normally associated with Adventure Travel, I’d like the judges to think about another criteria, small bikes, but I’d bet that Matt and Reece are already on it! I’d back the first person[s] to venture a big trip on a moped.”

Written by Peter Henshaw

Photo: David Martin courtesy of  The Sidecar Guys