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

Join our family adventures!

We support families to discover the outdoors on their doorstep in Coastal Cumbria creating events that are welcoming and suitable for a range of abilities. So far activities have included Family Forest School, water safety days and guided walks.

Through funding from Well Whitehaven we are delighted to announce a series of events this summer

Tale Trails are local 1-2 hour family walks based around a fun story and a hand drawn map for kids. So, download a copy of the map and have an adventure. There are 6 great walks along Copeland coast to choose from.

New for 2023 – there have been another two trails added to this programme including – Ennerdale & Walkmill community woodland.

This Girls' Adventure

This Girls’ Adventure offers our participants the opportunity to take part in subsidised activities run by inspiring and supportive instructors in a sociable and supportive environment.

So far, activities have included hill walking and paddle boarding, all in the beautiful natural landscapes of Coastal Cumbria and the West Lakes.

Monthly Hill skill days. We go on a different walk each month, and build up your skills in the outdoors, looking at areas such as map reading, choosing routes, and safety on the hills. The days are supportive and fun, and it really doesn’t matter if you are a total beginner! We go at a pace to suit the group and start with some walks not far from Whitehaven.

Outdoor Citizens – We have funding to deliver free walks, paddle sports and wild swimming for women in West Cumbria over the age of 18.

To book please go to our Events page on our website 

Coach Education

A new year of training and club support has begun. 

We support local activity clubs with coach education for their volunteers because we know that we would be lost without the hard work and dedication so many people give by volunteering their time and energy each week. To develop their clubs in the community and improve grass route participation sport.

So far, we have supported amazing volunteers from paddling to orienteering to gain First Aid and discipline-specific coach education qualifications.

To find out more, visit our Club Guidance page here:

Health & Wellbeing

Our health and wellbeing programme aims to increase physical activity level and improve mental health through participation in activities in a supported environment.

We have teamed up with Black Dog Outdoors, to offer free monthly walks right from the heart of Whitehaven with a minibus pick up and fully qualified and professional mountain leaders.

To book you place follow the link, https://www.blackdogoutdoors.co.uk/events/

Activities for Young People

We were funded in 2021-22 through the Cumbria Community Foundation to run a series of Outdoor Activities for young people. We supported over 150 young people in developmental and grass route activities including Stand Up Paddleboarding, Canoeing, Climbing and Fell walking.

Following the success of last years project we are offering young people outdoor activities from April 2023.

Keep an eye on our events page and our social media channels like Facebook.

https://outdoorpartnership.co.uk/events

https://www.facebook.com/TOPCumbria

 

Pathways to Employment

Pathways to employment courses create an opportunity to access outdoor activities and nature, increasing participants health and wellbeing, supporting people on their journey to employment. Over 16 weeks participants take part in numerous outdoor activities and receive a 2-day First Aid Certificate. The course is funded through the Copeland Community Fund.

Wellbeing through Nature

Wellbeing in Nature is a 12 month programme of nature connection activities for green social prescribing.

Activities include Forest bathing Forest school (adult and children) Basic bush crafting Mindful photography Nature on your doorstep

For more information please read our project evaluation below.

 

Wellbeing in Nature Project Evaluation
Wellbeing in Nature Project Evaluation
2 MB, PDF
Research Report and Gap analysis by the Cumbria stakeholder group
Research Report and Gap analysis by the Cumbria stakeholder group
536 KB, PDF

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 Claire on 07516 507357 or claire.bryant@outdoorpartnership.co.uk.