Hathersage-based Adventure Expeditions is a not-for-profit outdoor education provider working with a wide range of young people. The outdoors is used as a environment for personal development and growth, particularly for young people moving through adolescence into adulthood.

The company identified a need to diversify their activities following changes in the outdoor industry after the Covid-19 pandemic and rising costs. The project aims to safeguard and expand jobs for the immediate and long-term future and help the stability of their operations. It will reduce the problems associated with seasonality - including cash flow and job retention issues.

The £22,453 Business Development Grant has helped fund the purchase of equipment to use in a variety of year-round outdoor education activities. Also to facilitate a bespoke training/upskilling programme for staff to use the equipment and work with young people who often have specialist or complex needs. Activities such as caving, canoeing and rock-base activities are part of the diversified programme, with funding provided for specialist equipment and clothing - including headlamps, waterproof jackets, harnesses and a canoe trailer.

Cat Charlton (Director) says:

This grant has enabled us to not only widen our provision and expand the skills of our team, but to work with tens of young people who have been excluded, or are at risk of exclusion, from school and where the outdoors creates a different learning environment and opportunities to thrive in a different way.