The Outdoor Partnership will work with clubs, schools, individuals, and specialists to increase opportunities for people in Gwent to achieve their potential through outdoor activities, active participation, volunteering, training, and education.
Brett Mahoney is our Gwent Outdoor Activities Development Officer. He is based virtually (but can mainly be found running in the mountains or climbing at a crag!) and he covers Newport, Monmouthshire, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen.
You can stay up to date with what is happening in the Gwent area, by following The Outdoor Partnership Gwent and Brett’s social media accounts:
Instagram: @OutdoorPartnershipGwent
Facebook: Brett Mahoney | Facebook
Eventbrite : The Outdoor Partnership Gwent
Women and other marginalised genders are less likely to take part in physical activity regularly than their male counterparts and at instructor and coach level we see even lower representation.
Thanks to funding from Sport Powys we have the opportunity to start an outdoor adventure collective (name still up for discussion) which offers anyone who identifies as female or non-binary the opportunity to get involved with taster outdoor activity sessions and talks to get them inspired and motivated to take the plunge and make outdoor activity a firm fixture in their lives. Other sports are available of course, but we will be concentrating on these ones!
We are holding an information evening on 15th July 7-9pm in the Dragon Inn, Crickhowell as well as another sister event at Ystradgynlais Welfare Hall as part of the existing EYST network meeting. This is your chance to come along and shape how the collective looks and feels and determine which activities and talks we should spend our seed funding on.
Croeso Mawr. Hope to see you there!
@paa.top @sportpowys
Women and other marginalised genders are less likely to take part in physical activity regularly than their male counterparts and at instructor and coach level we see even lower representation.
Thanks to funding from Sport Powys we have the opportunity to start an outdoor adventure collective (name still up for discussion) which offers anyone who identifies as female or non-binary the opportunity to get involved with taster outdoor activity sessions and talks to get them inspired and motivated to take the plunge and make outdoor activity a firm fixture in their lives. Other sports are available of course, but we will be concentrating on these ones!
We are holding an information evening on 15th July 7-9pm in the Dragon Inn, Crickhowell as well as another sister event at Ystradgynlais Welfare Hall as part of the existing EYST network meeting. This is your chance to come along and shape how the collective looks and feels and determine which activities and talks we should spend our seed funding on.
Croeso Mawr. Hope to see you there!
@paa.top @sportpowys
Therapi Antur / Adventure Therapy 🗻🌲🧗♂️🧘♀️
July’s additional adventure therapy session is now bookable on the Gwent Wellbeing College curriculum!
This activity is an opportunity to explore waterfalls and plunge pools on a gorge walking activity with qualified instructors. All equipment provided.
Places are free for adults in Gwent who are accessing services signed up to the Gwent Wellbeing College: www.gwelcol.co.uk
If you’d like to find out more about how your service can access this programme and the wider Gwent Wellbeing College, please e-mail me at: brett.mahoney@outdoorpartnership.co.uk
This adventure therapy programme has been made possible thanks to funding from the Moondance Foundation.
@paa.top
@gwentwellbeingcollege
@crosfield_outdoors
Therapi Antur / Adventure Therapy 🗻🌲🧗♂️🧘♀️
July’s additional adventure therapy session is now bookable on the Gwent Wellbeing College curriculum!
This activity is an opportunity to explore waterfalls and plunge pools on a gorge walking activity with qualified instructors. All equipment provided.
Places are free for adults in Gwent who are accessing services signed up to the Gwent Wellbeing College: www.gwelcol.co.uk
If you’d like to find out more about how your service can access this programme and the wider Gwent Wellbeing College, please e-mail me at: brett.mahoney@outdoorpartnership.co.uk
This adventure therapy programme has been made possible thanks to funding from the Moondance Foundation.
@paa.top
@gwentwellbeingcollege
@crosfield_outdoors
The Gilwern Pump Track Jam is back again!
Organised by Abergavenny RC & @beiciocymru
Always a great event to develop some cycling skills and meet other riders.
See you there! 🤘🚴🍕
The Gilwern Pump Track Jam is back again!
Organised by Abergavenny RC & @beiciocymru
Always a great event to develop some cycling skills and meet other riders.
See you there! 🤘🚴🍕
Therapi Antur / Adventure Therapy 🗻🌲🧗♂️🧘♀️
In July, we have a canoeing day with Crosfield Outdoors. 🛶
This activity is an opportunity to paddle on Ponsticill Reservoir in a supportive environment with qualified instructors. All equipment provided.
Places are free for adults in Gwent who are accessing services signed up to the Gwent Wellbeing College: www.gwelcol.co.uk
If you’d like to find out more about how your service can access this programme and the wider Gwent Wellbeing College, please e-mail me at: brett.mahoney@outdoorpartnership.co.uk
This adventure therapy programme has been made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery and Moondance Foundation.
@paa.top @crosfield_outdoors @gwentwellbeingcollege
Therapi Antur / Adventure Therapy 🗻🌲🧗♂️🧘♀️
In July, we have a canoeing day with Crosfield Outdoors. 🛶
This activity is an opportunity to paddle on Ponsticill Reservoir in a supportive environment with qualified instructors. All equipment provided.
Places are free for adults in Gwent who are accessing services signed up to the Gwent Wellbeing College: www.gwelcol.co.uk
If you’d like to find out more about how your service can access this programme and the wider Gwent Wellbeing College, please e-mail me at: brett.mahoney@outdoorpartnership.co.uk
This adventure therapy programme has been made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery and Moondance Foundation.
@paa.top @crosfield_outdoors @gwentwellbeingcollege
Therapi Antur / Adventure Therapy 🗻🌲🧗♂️🧘♀️
June’s adventure therapy session is now bookable on the Gwent Wellbeing College curriculum!
The next activity is a day of outdoor rock climbing. All equipment provided and suitable for absolute beginners.
Places are free for adults in Gwent who are accessing services signed up to the Gwent Wellbeing College: www.gwelcol.co.uk
If you’d like to find out more about how your service can access this programme and the wider Gwent Wellbeing College, please e-mail me at: brett.mahoney@outdoorpartnership.co.uk
This adventure therapy programme has been made possible thanks to funding from the Moondance Foundation.
@paa.top
@gwentwellbeingcollege
@crosfield_outdoors
Therapi Antur / Adventure Therapy 🗻🌲🧗♂️🧘♀️
June’s adventure therapy session is now bookable on the Gwent Wellbeing College curriculum!
The next activity is a day of outdoor rock climbing. All equipment provided and suitable for absolute beginners.
Places are free for adults in Gwent who are accessing services signed up to the Gwent Wellbeing College: www.gwelcol.co.uk
If you’d like to find out more about how your service can access this programme and the wider Gwent Wellbeing College, please e-mail me at: brett.mahoney@outdoorpartnership.co.uk
This adventure therapy programme has been made possible thanks to funding from the Moondance Foundation.
@paa.top
@gwentwellbeingcollege
@crosfield_outdoors
Gwent Update / Diweddariad Gwent
It’s been a productive few weeks developing a variety of our programmes, so I thought I’d share a little update through photos!
Mae wedi bod yn wythnosau cynhyrchiol yn datblygu amrywiaeth o’n rhaglenni, felly roeddwn i’n meddwl y byddwn i’n rhannu ychydig o ddiweddariad trwy luniau!
1 & 2: Today, I popped over to Dinas Rock to see our Gwent Adventure Therapy group out gorge walking. This is our collaboration with the Gwent Wellbeing College, providing therapeutic adventure opportunities for adults in Gwent. I had the pleasure of doing some filming with our Volunteer Ambassador – Caitlin to capture the power of adventure for our wellbeing.
3&4: Out supporting Polly at RunVive Coaching with her 5k to 55k Into Ultra Group by delivering an introduction to navigation for trail runners. We spent a day in the stunning Wye Valley around Tintern dialling in some navigation skills before the group take on their first ultra trail race in August.
5: Working with Mynydd Du Climbing & Mountaineering Club, we have managed to secure funding for their Mini Mountaineers project! The funding will enable the club to increase its volunteer instructor capacity to provide more climbing opportunities for young people.
6: We have been successful in securing a further year of funding to facilitate free adventure respite opportunities for young unpaid carers in Gwent. The photos are of Caerphilly Young Carers on a residential trip to Plas Menai.
It’s going to be a busy summer!
@paa.top @gwentwellbeingcollege @runvivecoaching @mynydd_du_cmc @plas_menai @crosfield_outdoors
Gwent Update / Diweddariad Gwent
It’s been a productive few weeks developing a variety of our programmes, so I thought I’d share a little update through photos!
Mae wedi bod yn wythnosau cynhyrchiol yn datblygu amrywiaeth o’n rhaglenni, felly roeddwn i’n meddwl y byddwn i’n rhannu ychydig o ddiweddariad trwy luniau!
1 & 2: Today, I popped over to Dinas Rock to see our Gwent Adventure Therapy group out gorge walking. This is our collaboration with the Gwent Wellbeing College, providing therapeutic adventure opportunities for adults in Gwent. I had the pleasure of doing some filming with our Volunteer Ambassador – Caitlin to capture the power of adventure for our wellbeing.
3&4: Out supporting Polly at RunVive Coaching with her 5k to 55k Into Ultra Group by delivering an introduction to navigation for trail runners. We spent a day in the stunning Wye Valley around Tintern dialling in some navigation skills before the group take on their first ultra trail race in August.
5: Working with Mynydd Du Climbing & Mountaineering Club, we have managed to secure funding for their Mini Mountaineers project! The funding will enable the club to increase its volunteer instructor capacity to provide more climbing opportunities for young people.
6: We have been successful in securing a further year of funding to facilitate free adventure respite opportunities for young unpaid carers in Gwent. The photos are of Caerphilly Young Carers on a residential trip to Plas Menai.
It’s going to be a busy summer!
@paa.top @gwentwellbeingcollege @runvivecoaching @mynydd_du_cmc @plas_menai @crosfield_outdoors
Our collaboration with Gwent Wellbeing College that provides adventure therapy programmes in Gwent has been nominated for “Best Collaboration Initiative” at the Welsh Sport Association Awards. 🤲
This programme continues to have a huge positive impact on adults in Gwent by providing wellbeing support through activities such as rock climbing, caving, mountain walking and canoeing.
Can’t thank Mark Evans enough for sharing the passion for supporting people through adventure. Here’s to many more years of developing this programme.
@gwentwellbeingcollege @paa.top
Our collaboration with Gwent Wellbeing College that provides adventure therapy programmes in Gwent has been nominated for “Best Collaboration Initiative” at the Welsh Sport Association Awards. 🤲
This programme continues to have a huge positive impact on adults in Gwent by providing wellbeing support through activities such as rock climbing, caving, mountain walking and canoeing.
Can’t thank Mark Evans enough for sharing the passion for supporting people through adventure. Here’s to many more years of developing this programme.
@gwentwellbeingcollege @paa.top
Therapi Antur / Adventure Therapy 🗻🌲🧗♂️🧘♀️
May’s adventure therapy session is now bookable on the Gwent Wellbeing College curriculum!
This activity is an opportunity to explore waterfalls and plunge pools on a gorge walking activity with qualified instructors. All equipment provided.
Places are free for adults in Gwent who are accessing services signed up to the Gwent Wellbeing College: www.gwelcol.co.uk
If you’d like to find out more about how your service can access this programme and the wider Gwent Wellbeing College, please e-mail me at: brett.mahoney@outdoorpartnership.co.uk
This adventure therapy programme has been made possible thanks to funding from the Moondance Foundation.
@paa.top
@gwentwellbeingcollege
@crosfield_outdoors
Therapi Antur / Adventure Therapy 🗻🌲🧗♂️🧘♀️
May’s adventure therapy session is now bookable on the Gwent Wellbeing College curriculum!
This activity is an opportunity to explore waterfalls and plunge pools on a gorge walking activity with qualified instructors. All equipment provided.
Places are free for adults in Gwent who are accessing services signed up to the Gwent Wellbeing College: www.gwelcol.co.uk
If you’d like to find out more about how your service can access this programme and the wider Gwent Wellbeing College, please e-mail me at: brett.mahoney@outdoorpartnership.co.uk
This adventure therapy programme has been made possible thanks to funding from the Moondance Foundation.
@paa.top
@gwentwellbeingcollege
@crosfield_outdoors
Diwrnod gwych yn y Mynydd Du! / A great day in the Black Mountains!
Great conditions for some aspiring Lowland Leaders & NNAS participants to practice relating big geographical features to the map.
@gwentwellbeingcollege @paa.top
Diwrnod gwych yn y Mynydd Du! / A great day in the Black Mountains!
Great conditions for some aspiring Lowland Leaders & NNAS participants to practice relating big geographical features to the map.
@gwentwellbeingcollege @paa.top
Do you enjoy walking and immersing yourself in nature in beautiful surroundings?
Then this event is for you. Routes to suit everyone.
Volunteers from Caerphilly Adventure Group will be there so go and say shwmae! 👋
https://www.caerphillychallengeseries.co.uk/en/
@caerphillyadventuregroup @paa.top
Do you enjoy walking and immersing yourself in nature in beautiful surroundings?
Then this event is for you. Routes to suit everyone.
Volunteers from Caerphilly Adventure Group will be there so go and say shwmae! 👋
https://www.caerphillychallengeseries.co.uk/en/
@caerphillyadventuregroup @paa.top
Therapi Antur / Adventure Therapy 🗻🌲🧗♂️🧘♀️
In April, we have a double whammy for the open referral Gwent Adventure Therapy programme! In addition to Caving, we also have a canoeing day with Crosfield Outdoors. 🛶
This activity is an opportunity to explore the river Wye by canoe in a supportive environment with qualified instructors. All equipment provided.
Places are free for adults in Gwent who are accessing services signed up to the Gwent Wellbeing College: www.gwelcol.co.uk
If you’d like to find out more about how your service can access this programme and the wider Gwent Wellbeing College, please e-mail me at: brett.mahoney@outdoorpartnership.co.uk
This adventure therapy programme has been made possible thanks to funding from the Moondance Foundation.
@paa.top @crosfield_outdoors @gwentwellbeingcollege
Therapi Antur / Adventure Therapy 🗻🌲🧗♂️🧘♀️
In April, we have a double whammy for the open referral Gwent Adventure Therapy programme! In addition to Caving, we also have a canoeing day with Crosfield Outdoors. 🛶
This activity is an opportunity to explore the river Wye by canoe in a supportive environment with qualified instructors. All equipment provided.
Places are free for adults in Gwent who are accessing services signed up to the Gwent Wellbeing College: www.gwelcol.co.uk
If you’d like to find out more about how your service can access this programme and the wider Gwent Wellbeing College, please e-mail me at: brett.mahoney@outdoorpartnership.co.uk
This adventure therapy programme has been made possible thanks to funding from the Moondance Foundation.
@paa.top @crosfield_outdoors @gwentwellbeingcollege
What have we achieved so far? The Outdoor Partnership has been active in Gwent since July 2021. Here’s what we have been up to:
Expanding on the Healthy and Active fund, as developed by The Outdoor Partnership in North Wales, we have been supporting people living with psychosis and other mental health conditions to help them develop emotional resilience to stressful situations through outdoor activity.
This work was developed in conjunction with the local early intervention for psychosis service within Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and works on the stress resilience model as utilised by these services across the UK.
The programme has since expanded to give people who are accessing many different third sector support organisations across Gwent the opportunity to experience a variety of adventure activities in and around the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
About Adventure Therapy:
Adventure Therapy encompasses a range of outdoor activities that offer personal challenge for individuals, through exploration and discovery, within a safe and well supported environment. Many of these experiences incorporate activities such as cold-water immersion and use of perceived risk (i.e. being at height) as a mechanism to remove people from their day-to-day environment while creating safe spaces in beautiful landscapes for participants to connect with nature while developing and gaining new experiences.
Participants can access our Adventure Therapy Programmes in Gwent through referral organisations signed up to the Gwent Wellbeing College: Gwent Wellbeing College (gwelcol.co.uk)
Our Inclusive Adventure programme has provided people with mobility limitations and neurodiversity conditions access to a variety of outdoor adventure activities through taster sessions and targeted programmes.
In addition to taster sessions; we are working closely with providers and clubs in Gwent to improve access to outdoor activity for all.
This work has included:
Providing specific disability inclusion training to clubs and providers.
Securing funding for specialist adaptive equipment
Setting up outdoor activity clubs that are inclusive by nature.
The Outdoor Partnership’s ‘This Girls’ Adventure’ programme has been running since 2015 to inspire more women and girls to participate in outdoor activity to improve their health and wellbeing.
Although the name has remained the same, in recent years, the programme has become more inclusive and is also a safe and welcome space for the transgender and non-binary community.
In Gwent we have developed a variety of taster session and development course opportunities to promote participation and independence in outdoor activities. We’ve been able to run these sessions almost exclusively with female instructors and focused primarily on activities that are well suited to the landscape in Gwent, with good exit pathways to local clubs and long-term participation.
We have provided multiple Outdoor Employability Programmes for each area of Gwent, providing opportunities for residents to upskill while improving their mental health and wellbeing.
The programmes give participants the opportunity to access different outdoor adventure activities, gain skills and experience in technical skills and complete work-related qualifications such as the Outdoor First Aid L3, Indoor Climbing Assistant and National Navigation Award.
We also have an ongoing monthly Mountain Walking group that is a part of a wider employability programme being delivered by Torfaen Works and Gwent Drug & Alcohol Service. This provides service-users with access to a progressive mountain walking group to improve wellbeing, fitness, confidence and outdoor related skills.
In addition to our formal programmes, we continue to provide opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to access adventure activities in Gwent.
Activities have ranged from caving, mountain biking and rock climbing, through to wild camping, gorge walking and bushcraft.
To find out about upcoming taster activities in the region, follow our Gwent region social media channels.
Our Coach Education Programme has supported some amazing volunteers in outdoor clubs across Gwent.
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.
If you’d like to know more or are an outdoor activity club that would like to get involved, please contact Brett on 07706737013or brett.mahoney@outdoorpartnership.co.uk.
