The Outdoor Partnership places volunteers at the heart of creating sustainable outdoor opportunities. Rather than simply recruiting volunteers, we work to change the systems that support volunteering by developing leadership pathways, strengthening community networks and building the capacity of clubs and organisations to attract, retain and support volunteers in the long term.

Through this approach, we have helped shift the culture of volunteering in the outdoor sector from reliance on a small number of individuals to a more sustainable, community-led model. In 2025-26, 838 volunteer leaders supported over 7,000 people to participate in community-based outdoor activities, contributing an estimated £2.5 million of social value to their communities. By embedding volunteering within local outdoor infrastructure, we are creating lasting change that enables communities to lead, grow and sustain outdoor opportunities independently.