Swansea Bay Region - The Outdoor Partnership

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

Sioned Thomas - Swansea Bay Region Outdoor Activities Development Officer

Sioned Thomas is our Swansea Bay Region Outdoor Activities Development Officer. She is based virtually and she covers Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Pembrokeshire.

You can stay up to date with what is happening in the Swansea Bay Region by following The Outdoor Partnership Swansea Bay’s Social Media Accounts:

Instagram: @outdoorpartnershipswanseabay

Facebook: Sioned Thomas | Facebook

What have we achieved so far? The Outdoor Partnership has been active in the Swansea Bay Region since July 2021. Here’s what we have been up to:

This Girls' Adventure

So far, we have organised over 10 sessions for Women and Girls in the Swansea Bay Region
This has given the Women and Girls the Opportunity to try a variety of different Outdoor Activities including Windsurfing, Wild Swimming, Map Reading and Navigation, and Paddle Boarding.

Grassroots Activities

We have provided opportunities for young people to try a wide range of Outdoor Activities in their local areas including Wild Swimming, Rock Pooling, Bush Craft and Map Reading and Navigation skills.

Coach Education

Over 10 clubs have joined our Coach Education Programme which has supported over 20 amazing volunteers within the region within Outdoor Activity Clubs including Surf Lifesaving, Paddling, and Sailing.

Club Guidance

Bant a Ni! Welsh Language Programme

New for 2022, the Bant â ni! (Let’s Go!) project is a partnership between Mid Wales and Swansea Bay Region to develop a network of Welsh-speaking outdoor instructors in the region.

The project aims to support instructors who are learning Welsh to gain confidence leading outdoor activities through the medium of Welsh via practical sessions in real-life outdoor contexts as well as supporting Welsh speakers with a love of the outdoors to join the outdoor industry.

Our first session, paddleboarding and pizza in Llandysul, was a great success. Get in touch if you’d like to get involved.

Inclusive Adventure

Our Inclusive Adventure programme has provided people with mobility limitations and neurodiversity conditions access to a variety of outdoor adventure activities.

So far, we have organised Paddle Ability, Sit Skiing and Adaptive Bikes.

Men's sessions - Or - Bring a Bloke

We have launched our Men’s Sessions here in the Swansea Bay Region!

So far, the opportunity to try a range of outdoor activities from rafting, to kayaking and even Open Water Swimming! Watch this space for more Men only sessions!

Safety session

Here in Swansea Bay we are using these Colder Winter months for some Outdoor Activity Safety Sessions.

We kicked this off with some Sup Safety and Rescue Sessions, but we also have some plans for some Open Water Swimming Safety Sessions in the near future!

Social Prescribing Pilot (Land to Water Programme)

5-week programme introducing the Young People from Adferiad (EIP team) to the Land and Water

We explored the Sea, Coastal Paths, Waterfalls, and woodland.

ITV Wales’ Coast and Country programme even came along to have a look what we did!

Have a look at our video;

ITV Coast and Country

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 Sioned on 07706735791 or sioned.thomas@outdoorpartnership.co.uk.