Inspiring the next generation of nature lovers

YDMT’s pioneering youth projects help to provide young people with a clear pathway of lifechanging experiences, with a focus on building
life skills, volunteering and social action.

Creating opportunities to spend time in greenspace

We help improve the health and wellbeing of young participants and provide a range of long-term progression opportunities, like apprenticeships and training.

16 and 17-year-olds have been hard hit by the Covid19 pandemic, with increasing levels of anxiety, social isolation, and concern for their future. Research demonstrates that spending time in greenspace has a huge positive impact on wellbeing and mental health. This year, our Green Routes project exceeded targets, providing young people from a range of underrepresented and disadvantaged groups across Blackburn, North Yorkshire and Bradford, with opportunities to visit and experience the Dales.

The project was delivered in partnership with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) and with funding from the National Citizen Service. Now the project has ended we’ll be building on its success by working with participants from a wider age and location range, and continuing to work closely with the YDNPA and other organisations.

How we've helped young people through our Green Routes project

• Engaged with 448 young people.
• Provided 1,028 places on events.
• 37% of participants had a disability and 42% had a mental health issue.
• 41% of participants were refugee/asylum seekers.
• 42% of participants were at risk of homelessness.
• 71% of participants experienced economic disadvantage.

Jamie’s Story

Through our youth engagement projects we’ve worked with SELFA, a local children’s charity, over the last 12 months, to help them overcome funding issues, develop new skills, increase social inclusion and encourage nature connection with young people. We’ve also provided grant funding, Forest School sessions and a range of further learning opportunities to support working outdoors with young people.

Our long-term relationship with SELFA has had an incredible impact on the young people interacting with them through regular engagement sessions.

We first met Jamie in one of our focus groups, to find out what young people would like to experience outdoors in nature. Jamie had struggled
with social anxiety, was afraid to leave the family home and hadn’t attended school for three years. Jamie was able to attend sessions with SELFA each week and with our support participated in a range of outdoor activities, including a treetop adventure, forest school sessions, rock climbing and paddleboarding!

As a result, Jamie, has built some fantastic friendships, and the great outdoors is now a part of their everyday life. Jamie said ‘’This is the most
time I’ve spent outside in ages, unless you count my Minecraft garden.’’ Jamie will be college-bound this Autumn, with a new found confidence to be outside, and feeling more self-assured about taking the next steps to go to college and access the education they deserve.

Joanna Gregory, YDMT Project Officer, said: ‘’It’s truly an honour to be part of any young person’s journey, and to do so through an organisation as supportive and true as SELFA speaks volumes.’’

More opportunties for young people

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