BTO Equipment Donation Scheme

The BTO Equipment Donation Scheme (EDS) supports young people across the UK who do not have cannot afford birdwatching equipment and guides, by donating binoculars, scopes and bird books to individuals, schools, and university groups. It is managed by BTO Youth, which aims to pass on the passion for birdwatching to the next generation.

Do you have a pair of binoculars you no longer use, or a bird guide that is gathering dust? Learn more about donating to the EDS.
If you are a young person, school or university group, you can apply to receive optics or identification guides. Find out how to apply to the EDS.

Birdcamp 2018. Photograph by Robert Read

Donate your pre-loved equipment

Thank you for considering donating your equipment to BTO! The generosity of supporters like you has enabled us to reach over 2,300 young people across the UK, inspiring and empowering them to engage with nature.

Your donation will be sent to young people, schools or university groups who currently don’t have access to birdwatching equipment. Each recipient will be asked to provide feedback about how the equipment has enabled them to develop their skills and interests further.

Applications to receive donated equipment are reviewed by a panel of staff and Youth Advisory Panel members to prioritise the young people who will benefit most.

If your equipment is particularly valuable, we may ask your permission to sell it to a trusted reseller, and use this income to buy several pairs of lower-price binoculars. This way, we can help more young people with your donation.

Donate your equipment today

Fill out our short Equipment Donation Form, and the BTO Youth team will be in touch soon to discuss your donation.

Equipment donation form

If you have questions about the scheme, we would love to hear from you. Please email BTO Youth: youth [at] bto.org

Request donated equipment

Thank you for showing an interest in the BTO Equipment Donation Scheme!

We’re redistributing pre-loved equipment, like binoculars or bird guides, to those who currently don’t have access to them. In some cases, we may provide new equipment sponsored by corporate sponsors or individual donors.

At this time the scheme is available for:

Schools from Years 3-13; applications can be sent in either for year groups or for school clubs that have an environmental focus
University clubs and societies with an environmental focus
Individuals between the ages of 11–21, who do not already own binoculars or other equipment requested

On some occasions, we can also accept applications from other groups (e.g. Scouts, youth groups). If this applies to you, please get in touch using the form. All applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

We hope to expand the scope of the scheme in future. Please note that the scheme is subject to availability and we cannot guarantee that the equipment request will be available at any given time. We are only able to accept applications from the UK.

Apply for equipment today

If you would like to be considered to receive items as part of the scheme, fill out our short Equipment Request Form. The BTO Youth team will be in touch soon.

If you are under the age of 16, you will need a parent/guardian to fill in the form for you.

Equipment request form

If you would prefer to apply for the scheme in another format, please get in touch. For these and other questions, please email youth [at] bto.org

Opticron logo landscape

With thanks

The Equipment Donation Scheme is kindly supported by Opticron.

Opticron is a family-owned business with over fifty years of experience in consumer optics. In that time, it has met the demands of tens of thousands of people looking for quality, affordable binoculars, a fieldscope or accessory to help them pursue their pastime, hobby or obsession.

Opticron is committed to promoting wildlife and nature observation and conservation and is proud to support the BTO and its equipment donation scheme. The company has helped repair some of the used equipment donated to the scheme and has also supported the purchase of new equipment for onward donation.