Since our inception in 2004, we have focused on developing a continuum which inspires local people to take up outdoor activities as a life-long pursuit.  This involves supporting, existing and setting up new, outdoor activity clubs in local communities across all regions we operate in.

One of the biggest challenges clubs faced at the beginning was to recruit local, qualified coaches. So, with the help of the Outdoor Partnership staff team, the clubs recruited qualified outdoor instructors from local authority outdoor education centres to help them establish themselves, attract new members and offer a series of club sessions. This model was not sustainable, and a Coach Education programme was needed to help support local people on the journey to becoming qualified volunteer leaders.

Another challenge to overcome was that volunteers in the outdoors need to acquire special skills, which are often gained from experience over time. To gain outdoor qualifications takes a lot of time, effort and cost, so for most voluntary leaders this is not realistic with the pressures of ‘modern life’.

Thanks to initial funding from Sport Wales, the WCVA and National Lottery Funding, the Outdoor Partnership overcame these barriers by establishing what is now, a sustainable and inclusive Coach Education programme, with the Outdoor Partnership as an organisation providing advocacy and support to independent community-based outdoor clubs.

The Coach Education programme involves supporting volunteers in clubs to access courses and qualifications, which help with their role in the club for a subsidised cost, therefore reducing one barrier to their volunteering.

Over the past 20 years the Outdoor Partnership has trained over 8000 volunteers, who in turn provide regular participation and training for thousands of local people of all ages.