Central South Wales - The Outdoor Partnership

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

Leila Connolly - Central South Wales Outdoor Activities Development Officer

Leila Connolly is our Central South Wales Outdoor Activities Development Officer. She is based virtually (but can mainly be found surfing or Stand up Paddleboarding) and she covers Cardiff, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Vale of Glamorgan.

You can stay up to date with what is happening in the Central South Wales area, by following The Outdoor Partnership Central South Wales and Leila’s social media accounts:

Leila Connolly | Facebook

Leila Connolly (@outdoorpartnership.csw) • Instagram photos and videos

The Outdoor Partnership has been growing opportunities and participation across the region. Here’s a quick look at what we’ve achieved…

Inclusive Adventure

Our Inclusive Adventure Programme has been buzzing with activity! We’ve been welcoming loads of new groups and introducing them to the thrill of paddlesport and climbing. From visually impaired adventurers to deaf and hard of hearing participants, neurodiverse young people, and care‑experienced youth – we’re making outdoor adventure truly for everyone across Central South Wales.

Climbing for all - Inclusive Climbing Sessions

The Outdoor Partnership has been proudly supporting two brilliant climbing centres in Central South Wales – Boulders Climbing Centre in Cardiff and Summit Centre, Rock UK, in Merthyr Tydfil—to offer exciting climbing opportunities for people with complex needs, those who are neurodiverse, and individuals with a wide range of disabilities.

To help inclusive climbing run smoothly, The Outdoor Partnership has provided funding for staff, parachute harnesses, and specialist equipment so sessions can be delivered safely and confidently. We’ve also funded several social prescribing projects and helped other organisations access these facilities. Groups such as Sense adults with complex needs and disabilities, the Deaf and hard of hearing community, and visually impaired young people are just some of those we’ve supported, making sure as many barriers as possible are removed so everyone can enjoy climbing.

The Inclusive Climbing project also subsidised regular monthly climbing sessions. These have now grown into fully sustainable monthly climbing clubs at both centres – and they continue to go from strength to strength!

Walk Leader Project

We worked alongside a group of ethnically diverse women in Cardiff to help develop new volunteer walk leaders, supporting them through the training required to complete their Lowland Leader qualifications. The aim of the project was to build confidence, provide essential equipment, and help establish a sustainable walking group within their community.

We continued to work with this stakeholder and others to support additional walk‑leader programmes and remained engaged wherever there was a need, including through initiatives such as This Girls Adventure. We also developed two walk‑leader equipment packs, which we loan out to community groups to support them through their walk‑leader assessments. Alongside this, we continue to support a wide network of stakeholders as they work through their training and qualifications, helping them follow NGB guidance and offering mentoring whenever they need it.

Coach Education

Our Coach Education Programme has supported some amazing volunteers in outdoor clubs in Central South Wales.

We have provided funding for volunteers to upskill and achieve NGB qualifications to develop their clubs in the community and improve grass roots participation in outdoor sport.

We have supported clubs apply for grants to access and update equipment and open the club to more club members.

Pathways to Employment

We have provided a number of courses throughout the Central South Wales region.

The programmes gave participants the opportunity to access different outdoor adventure activity training and qualifications.

Grassroots Participation

In addition to our formal programmes, we have provided opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to access adventure activities in the Central South Wales.

Activities have ranged from surfing, mountain biking and rock climbing, through to stand up paddleboarding, kayaking and bushcraft.

This Girls' Adventure

Over the past year, This Girls Adventure has had a powerful and inspiring focus: Breast Cancer Recovery through adventure and community. What began with gentle taster sessions—like coasteering, outdoor rock climbing, paddlesport, white‑water rafting, and peaceful walk‑and‑sauna days—has once again grown into something truly beautiful.

From this programme, the incredible Wild Women Adventure Group was born. Many of the women who joined us on this journey have gone on to achieve amazing things: completing their 16‑hour Outdoor First Aid, completed the Lowland Leader Training, and even becoming Outdoor Partnership Volunteer Ambassadors. One ambassador now supports our Inclusive Climbing Club and has proudly completed her Indoor Lead Climbing and Indoor Climbing Assistant qualifications.

We were even joined by Sport Wales, who came out to film the group taking on white‑water rafting – an unforgettable day! You can check out the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/f4X1Hed_Y-k?si=UEXIiAelHz9jHstY

Looking to get involved?

If you’d like to know more or are an outdoor activity club that would like to get involved, please contact Leila on 07872851395 or leila.connolly@outdoorpartnership.co.uk.