Newsletter Cymraeg
Return
Newsletter Cymraeg

The Outdoor Partnership works with clubs, schools, individuals, and cross-sector partners to strengthen the conditions that enable people in Central South Wales to achieve their potential through outdoor activities, 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

 

Since 2021, The Outdoor Partnership has been bringing people and organisations together across Central South Wales to create more opportunities and lasting impact. Here’s a quick look at what we’ve achieved lately…

Young Carers Adventure Programme
The Young Carers Adventure Programme in Central South Wales provides free outdoor activity opportunities for young carers, helping them take a break from their everyday caring responsibilities while improving wellbeing, confidence and social connections.
Delivered by The Outdoor Partnership in collaboration with local organisations, the programme offers a range of accessible activities such as caving, paddleboarding, canoeing, bushcraft and mountain biking for young people aged 8-25. [shortbreak…heme.wales]
A recent programme delivered with the Ethnic Youth Support Team (EYST) enabled a group of young carers from Cardiff to take part in a guided caving experience in the Brecon Beacons. Read the case study below to find out how it went!
Case Study-Short Breaks-EYST Young Carers July 2026
29 KB, VND.OPENXMLFORMATS-OFFICEDOCUMENT.WORDPROCESSINGML.DOCUMENT
Inclusive Adventure

Our Inclusive Adventure Programme has been buzzing with activity, helping create lasting changes in how outdoor opportunities are designed and delivered across Central South Wales. By bringing together disability organisations, community groups, outdoor providers and activity centres, we have built a strong network that is breaking barriers and creating more inclusive pathways into adventure. 

As a result, organisations are increasingly embedding outdoor activities into their well-being, support and development programmes, rather than viewing them as one-off experiences. This collaborative approach is creating sustainable opportunities for visually impaired adventurers, deaf and hard of hearing participants, neurodiverse young people and care-experienced young people – 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 with a group of ethnically diverse women in Cardiff to train new volunteer walk leaders, supporting them to achieve their Lowland Leader qualifications. The project built confidence, provided essential equipment, and helped establish a community-led walking group that can continue to grow independently.

Building on this success, we have continued to support other organisations and community groups through initiatives such as This Girls Adventure. We have also developed two walk-leader equipment packs for community use and provide ongoing mentoring, guidance and access to resources. By helping people, groups and organisations develop the skills and confidence to lead their own activities, we are creating lasting opportunities for more communities to access and benefit from the outdoors.

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.

This programmes gives participants the opportunity to access a variety of 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. Check out the video below!

Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Recovery Session
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.