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Community Leaders head outdoors

Helping community groups in the North West access the outdoors

The course was the best I've ever been on
It was great to watch the development of relationships between the participants flourishing. Everybody was so keen to help and support each other during the course and offered their extended support to each other after the course finished. This is what feels so good about the community leaders’ course - not only are people developing their confidence and skills in the outdoors, they are making valuable connections and sharing resources with other groups in the community, and this is what community is all about.
Abbie Hampshire, Community Engagement Officer, Forest of Bowland Natural Landscape
I felt so energised

These were just two comments from participants who took part in a course aimed at giving community leaders the skills and confidence they need to help the members of their groups access the outdoors and connect with nature.

This community leaders’ course took place in beautiful locations in Blackburn and Preston – Witton Country Park and Beacon Fell Country Park – and covered simple but effective activities that can be done in the outdoors at very little, or no cost.

The course (the second of its kind to be run) is just one element of the three-year Connecting People and Nature project, which The Ernest Cook Trust is delivering in partnership with the Forest of Bowland National Landscape, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. The focus of Connecting People and Nature is on promoting nature, wellbeing, and Outdoor Learning.

Joining in were 15 participants from a range of backgrounds who work within the community sector, and with children and young people. They represented:

Alison, Outdoor Learning Officer with The Ernest Cook Trust, commented:

We had a lovely diverse group of participants who each brought a wealth of knowledge and experience. The course built on these strengths of community engagement and empowered participants to think about taking their groups outdoors into parks and nature reserves in the future. Being within the wild spaces of Beacon Fell really helped connect people with nature and see the potential opportunities for health and wellbeing improvements.

Martin Sadler, Director of Move2Change and facilitator of the course, said:

The community leaders’ course is a great way for people to develop their skills and confidence in working with groups outdoors. The group were really enthusiastic and got stuck into all the tasks. It was a privilege to be working with them all

Find out more about the Connecting People and Nature project, and the Trust’s work with communities via these links:

The Ernest Cook Trust
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