The Ramblers 'Out There' award arrives in England

June 2024 sees the Ramblers’ Out There Award, supported by Sport England, launch in England. Marking an expansion of the programme established in Scotland, the Out There Award training programme will be available in the South West of England for the first time this summer. The award gives participants the chance to gain basic outdoor skills, learn about the Countryside Code and enjoy sociable walks alongside like-minded 18 to 26-year-olds, giving them the confidence to enjoy being outdoors.

The award has been co-designed by participants to be fun, inclusive and accessible for all. For young people interested in gaining the skills needed to start exploring the outdoors, making new friends or improving their health through gentler walks, the FREE two-day Out There Award is designed to suit everyone, regardless of background, experience or budget.

Having successfully run the award-winning project in Scotland since 2019, the Ramblers is extending the award into England for the first time, encouraging more young people to take part in the free course. During 2024, the Out There Award will be delivered to up to 70 participants in South West England, with seven events taking place in Bristol, Taunton and Bridgwater, between June and September. This expansion paves the way for the Ramblers charity to support even more young people across Great Britian and ramps up its ongoing mission to open the way for everyone to enjoy the outdoors.

A 2018 survey by ScotPulse found that younger people face some of the biggest barriers to walking, in particular lacking walking partners and knowledge of where to walk. After completing Scotland’s Out There Award events in 2023, 96% of participants reported feeling confident or extremely confident that they had the appropriate levels of skill and knowledge to go walking safely, up from 36% in their pre-award surveys.

Heather Thomson, from Glasgow, who completed the award in 2022 said:

“I had a family who was not very active in the outdoors and gathering the needed kit can be overwhelming and costly. I remember thinking where do I start? It is invaluable to have an award that educates young people and provides you with the necessities to get started”.

Kate Davis, Walking Experience Officer, The Ramblers added “We’re excited to be able to offer the Out There Award in the South West for the first time, enabling young people gain new outdoor skills and building on the success we’ve seen in Scotland. The sessions run over two days, yet completing the award has a lasting positive impact, increasing participants confidence, social connections and employability.”

The award takes place over two days, with the first day offering introductory training in outdoor skills and the second day spent as a group exploring a new walk. Both days are led by qualified staff, to bring the learning to life. Everyone who completes the Out There Award gets a free starter kit full of outdoor essentials and a year of free Ramblers membership. The charity also helps connect participants with friendly local walkers’ groups so that they can continue to build on their skills through peer-to-peer support.

To find out more visit: The Out There Award

Sign up to take part at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/out-there-award-england-3112469

For additional information contact Aspire PR: [email protected]