Fells and Flow community impact

Founded by Clare, a mum of twins with learning disabilities, Outdoors for everyone aims to support other young adults with learning disabilities living in Cumbria and North Lancashire to experience the great outdoors and the benefits of time in nature. It’s all about opening up access to National Parks and rural spaces.

Outdoors for everyone used the money to help people in supported living accommodation to experience a group outing to the Ullswater Way – one of Cumbria’s most spectacular lakeside walking trails – guided by a mountain leader and with an overnight stay in accessible accommodation.

Run entirely by volunteers, Cockermouth CAN community action group works to make Cockermouth a greener place to live, with projects focused on reducing carbon emissions, increasing biodiversity and improving the quality of life for the local community. Their monthly Repair Cafe saves hundreds of items from being thrown away.

Cockermouth CAN used the grant to purchase a portable appliance testing (PAT) tester to safely test electrical items brought into the Repair Cafe, building skills in the community by training volunteers in PAT testing and reducing landfill. The money also went towards creating flyers to further promote the café

Run free weekly outdoor youth club sessions on a housing estate in Penrith where previously there had been no safe place to play or hang out, leading to anti-social behaviour. Led by experienced youth workers, The Outdoors Club reduces social isolation, improves mental wellbeing, and provides informal learning opportunities to grow self-esteem and develop stewardship of green spaces. Young members often describe the club as "home", saying "the club is my escape".

The Fells and Flow grant contributed to eight weekly youth club sessions and allowed The Outdoors Club to offer free outdoor play, facilitate new skills and provide quality youth work to 60 children over 660 contact hours. Without the grant, The Outdoors Club would have had a gap in delivery, risking losing the trusting relationships they have spent four years building.

Grasmere Red Squirrels Group is dedicated to protecting and conserving endangered native red squirrels in Grasmere Vale. Thanks to their ongoing conservation efforts, Grasmere's red squirrel population is now thriving, but still at high risk of extinction.

Installing a red squirrel feeder and camera at a local primary school, so pupils can help protect and find out more about this special native species, its behaviours and its habitat.

Creative Communities aims to increase the diversity of visitors to the Lake District and demonstrate that everyone is welcome.

The grant from Fells and Flow funded three outdoor trips, including short walks and nature connection sessions. All participating groups said they had a positive experience, grew in confidence and felt their wellbeing improved after spending time in nature.