Elan Links Partnership
Written by Tir Coed / Wednesday 22 May 2024
Over the last six years, we have been working with the Elan Valley Trust delivering outdoor training, learning and wellbeing programmes within their woodlands.
Elan Links was a Heritage Lottery supported partnership project which aimed to secure the heritage of, and boost the opportunities available in the Elan Valley for the future.
2023 marked the final year of the project, which saw Tir Coed bring real improvements to the lives of people most in need, by supporting engagement and integration of those furthest from the job market back into education and training. Through the delivery of short skills-based and longer accredited courses, we have provided opportunities to support learning in woodlands whilst making improvements to the natural environment of Elan Valley and the community’s access to it.
Throughout the duration of the project, we delivered 100 bespoke activity sessions, enabling people to spend time outdoors, engage with the area and its natural heritage and gain a new appreciation of this special landscape.
Additionally, we provided retreat packages to enable harder to reach groups from the Birmingham area to connect with the Elan Valley, breaking down barriers to getting into the outdoors. Specifically supporting groups of people who may not normally visit the countryside, but who have links to the Elan Valley through the supply of their water, we provided life-changing and life-enhancing opportunities for people to spend time in nature.
Over the last 6 years we have…
Delivered 11 x 24-day training courses which had a positive impact on 86 people's lives
Delivered 100 x bespoke activity sessions to 1,378 harder to reach individuals from the local community
Provided 172 people with experience and training
These videos are of our two final projects – an accessible ramp that provides access for all to use the roundhouse site, and a bridge to ensure all can benefit from spending time in an outdoor therapeutic environment.
Well done to the dedicated team of trainees for these incredible achievements.
