Northern Ireland-The Sperrins - The Outdoor Partnership

The Outdoor Partnership will work with clubs, schools, individuals, and specialists to increase opportunities for people in The Sperrins AONB to achieve their potential through outdoor activities, active participation, volunteering, training, and education.

APPLY NOW- The Sperrins Youth Ambassador Project

Project description:

The Sperrins Youth Ambassador Project is an initiative focused on young people and the Sperrins Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This program invites participants to explore the rich landscape of the Sperrins and all that it has to offer. Our goal is to empower young people from the surrounding areas by providing them with new outdoor skills, education, and opportunities, while highlighting the importance of this landscape to our well-being and the need to preserve it for future generations.

Over the course of 12 months, the project will feature 10 sessions, with one session held each month (allowing for two break months). One of these sessions will be an overnight camping expedition.

Each session will focus on a different theme, including outdoor education, hill skills and navigation, water sports, agriculture, heritage, and environmental topics.

If you’re passionate about the outdoors, this project is for you!

For more information on the criteria of the programme please see below

To complete an application to the Sperrins Ambassador Programme 2025-26 please follow the link below.

Closing date is the Friday 16/5/2025 at 17:00pm.

If you need any support or have any questions please contact Gary Donaldson via 07742876126 or gary.donaldson@outdoorpartnership.co.uk

Sperrins Ambassador Programme 2025-26 application form

Sperrins Ambassador programme Criteria:

Age and Eligibility

Age Range: Applicants must be between 14 and 17 years old at the time of application.

Residency: Applicants must be from or have strong ties to the Sperrins region or surrounding areas. Such as Omagh, Strabane, Derry/Londonderry, Coleraine, Cookstown to name a few examples.

Interest and Passion for the Outdoors

Genuine Interest in Outdoor Activities: Applicants must demonstrate a passion for outdoor activities such as hiking, nature conservation, environmental education, or outdoor leadership.

Willingness to Participate in Physical Activities: Applicants should be comfortable participating in outdoor activities in a variety of weather conditions, including hiking, exploring, and environmental stewardship.

Commitment to the Program

Availability and Attendance: Applicants must commit to attending all scheduled program sessions and activities, including outdoor trips, workshops, and training.

Engagement: Applicants should be enthusiastic about taking on the responsibility of being an ambassador, representing the program in the community, and engaging with other youth participants.

Commitment to Environmental Stewardship

Environmental Awareness: Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of or interest in protecting the natural environment. Previous involvement in environmental or sustainability-related activities is an advantage.

Respect for Nature: A willingness to follow and promote Leave No Trace principles and contribute to preserving local landscapes and wildlife.

Enrolment process:

Application Form: Complete a detailed application form, including questions about why you want to participate, your interests in outdoor activities, and how you will contribute to the program.

Shortlisting will take place after closing date and applications will be reviewed by the Sperrins Partnership, The Outdoor Partnership and Field Studies Ireland.

Program Delivery:

Program delivery will take place across areas of the Sperrins AONB which have been highlighted as areas of interest within the program. The project itself will be outdoors orientated and will consist of environmental, outdoor activities, agriculture and community interests.

The Project will be spanned over a 12-month period, 10 sessions, 1 per month (expect 2 resting months). One of those sessions will be a overnight expedition.

It is proposed that delivery of the 2025/26 project starts in May. We understand that participants will have exam and study commitments. With delivery we aim to be flexible with dates and work with participants so that our sessions do not clash with study commitments. There is no fixed date for sessions, and we hope throughout the process of the project we will plan sessions around participants’ availability.

Gary Donaldson - The Sperrins Outdoor Activities Development Officer

Gary Donaldson is our Sperrins Outdoor Activities Development Officer. He will be working in the areas of Causeway Coast & Glens, Derry & Strabane, Fermanagh & Omagh and Mid Ulster

If you’d like to know more or are an outdoor activity club that would like to get involved, please contact Gary on

07742876126 or gary.donaldson@outdoorpartnership.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/TOPNorthernIreland/

https://www.instagram.com/topnorthernireland/

Men's Outdoor Wellbeing Project

This winter The Outdoor Partnership delivered a Men’s Outdoor Wellbeing project aimed at upskilling residents through local outdoor opportunities, building better social connections and building confidence in participants to partake further in outdoor activities.

The project was planned in conjunction with the Dennet Health Networks Men’s Shed group. This allowed participants to plan and pick activities that they were interested in giving a go!

These activities ranged from:

Walking events & Walk Leader Training
Map Reading and Navigation Sessions
Archery
Angling
Clay Target Practice

We hope this project has shown participant the opportunities that are available locally to partake in outdoor activities.

Through this project we upskilled participants for future involvement and have recently had a participant go on to join one of the local clubs enabling them to further develop their skills and connections within their community.

We would like to thank Damian Devine (Chair of Donemana Men’s shed club) for helping organise the group and the sessions & to all of our expert providers and clubs that facilitated sessions alongside the project.

The Outdoor Partnership & ERNE Paddlers Project

The outdoor partnership (TOP) are delivering kayaking sessions at Gortin lakes alongside Erne Paddlers which are aimed at developing skills and confidence on the lake at Gortin enabling local people to engage in Kayaking with the long term aim to set up a satellite club to grow the reach of the club to encompass new communities and local resources.

Gary and the Outdoor Partnership have been running sessions aimed at engaging the local community to participate in these sessions and to become long term members of Erne paddlers with coach education planned for the Autumn months which will help grow the club in this area and make it more sustainable.

Alongside these sessions TOP and ERNE paddlers are also delivering a series of recreational river sessions aimed at engaging new members and families. with these sessions progressing from the skills they have learnt on the lake to a more recreational activity enabling people to see the skills they have developed be used in real world situations.

There are also inclusive sessions planned for the coming months in partnership with Omagh and Fermanagh district council at Omagh leisure centre which will help people with a wide variety of disabilities to engage in paddling sports.

These projects are based around the long term goal to support the club to expand within the Sperrin’s region.

For more information and to book onto these events please follow this link to their Facebook page:-

https://www.facebook.com/ernepaddlers/?locale=en_GB

Mountaineering Ireland

We have also been working alongside Mountaineering Ireland to deliver Hill Skills training sessions across the Sperrin’s for local residents to develop their skills and confidence, learn about navigation and how to best assess and prepare for weather in the hills.

This project has provided 13 people with new skills enhancing their awareness of their safety, their impact on the local area and how to best look after the natural environment.

These sessions have progressed into support for inclusive walking sessions which will support local people with a range of disabilities by providing low level walking sessions with the hopes to grow this into a sustainable program for the coming months.

The Outdoor Partnership have pencilled in another of these Hill Skills programs for September 2024, keep an eye on our social media pages to find out more.