‘Inspironment’

Bringing inspiration and well-being benefits from the National Park

environment to disadvantaged people.

Final Report April 2016

Report Index

1 Introduction and Project Aims

2 Project Timeframe

3 Project Outputs

3.i Evaluation framework

3.ii Group Leaders training

3.iii Group leader led introductory visits

3iv Sample Itineraries

4 Project Evaluation

5 Summary

Annex l - Groups worked with

Annex ll - Training Module & Resource Pack

Annex III - Evaluation Framework

Annex IV - Sample Itineraries list

Annex V - Sample Itinerary

Financial Summary

Photographs: This page Hafal Group. Cover Action for Children Ystradgynlais, Powys

Youth Intervention Service, ACESS Abertillery

1. Introduction and Aims

Inspironment is a social inclusion project which aims to develop awareness and understanding of what the

National Park can offer to leaders of and participants in groups working with disadvantaged people. In

particular the unique offer of the National Park as an inspirational yet safe place. These qualities have been

repeatedly identified by participants visiting the National Park on previous inclusion programme.

The project objectives are to:

increase the skill levels of individual group leaders to enable them to act as inspirational figures within their groups

support the delivery of replicable low cost activities,

promote the benefits the inspirational Brecon Beacons National Park environment offers to disadvantaged groups

improve the involvement of disadvantaged people in outdoor activity.

better understand the role of high quality landscapes in inspiring and enabling immediate wellbeing

and health benefits for socially excluded groups

The project contributes to Well-being of future generations Act Goals , particularly A Healthier Wales and A More Equal Wales:

Across the UK inequality is seen in access to outdoor, sporting and creative activities across the

generations. Poorer children spending more sedentary time in front of screens whilst the more affluent

have access to a wide range of sports and other pursuits. (IPSOS 2011 Children’s Well-being in UK, Sweden

and Spain: The Role of Inequality and Materialism).

Inspironment aims to reduce this inequality by supporting and up-skilling Group leaders and their group

participants , enabling increased opportunities for disadvantaged individuals to benefit from the inspirational

National Park environment

Inspironment aims 2015-2016:

Develop Evaluation framework -including methodology & materials

Plan and deliver 4 Group leader training sessions

Deliver 16 Group leader led introductory visits for participating groups, with project team support

to increase knowledge, skills and confidence.

Develop 10 Sample Itineraries(ie suggestions & information for days out for groups with

different needs)

Undertake evaluation to assess benefits of various activities for different participant groups

2. Project Timeframe

The project timeframe, with project outputs:

Output Measure Delivered

by

Achievements

to April 2016

Evaluation framework developed-

including development of

methodology & materials

Methodology & materials

(eg questionnaire ready) 31.5.15

Framework

developed-See

Annex III

Group leader training planned Materials & promotion of

dates 31.5

See Annex 2

Training module

Group leader training sessions delivered

4 Delivered by 31.10

6 sessions

Evaluation delivered to assess

health & wellbeing benefits & merits of various activities for

different users needs

End of project report March2016

Evaluation

undertaken :

surveys during

project delivery and analysis.

Reporting in

Section 4.

Project

Evaluation

Group leader led introductory

visits 16 March2016

18 group visits

undertaken

Annex 1 Groups

Worked with

Sample Itineraries(ie suggestions & information for days out for

groups with different needs)

10 March2016 10 produced. List in Annex IV

3. Project Outputs

3.i Evaluation framework

3 ii Group Leaders training

Samples of feedback from Group Leaders attending on what they enjoyed indicates that the project aims

to increase skills , knowledge and confidence were achieved.

“Able to discuss individual group

needs, new ideas”

Torfaen day activities

“The whole day was well structured and very

enjoyable”

Change step/Kaleidoscope

“Learning about the equipment available and the

possibility of teaming up to undergo future trips.”

Youth Intervention Service

Change step/Kaleisoscope “The practicality of the training i.e. actually being

outdoors doing activities”

Youth Intervention Service

Change step/Kaleisoscope

“All of it very informative and very

professional ”

HAFAL

3.iii Group Leader led introductory visits

The Group Leaders were supported to plan and return with their groups to practice the delivery of

activities, and understand through demonstration which activities most benefited their groups

3.iv Sample Itineraries

The project set out to create a series of itineraries to meet the needs of different disadvantaged groups-

for use during and after the project. The evaluation reported below reinforces the experience of previous

work with disadvantaged groups that lack of information is one of the 2 most significant barriers to

disadvantaged groups accessing and benefitting from the outdoor natural environment.

Itineraries include a map and route for a walk to enable easy use of the National Park , supported step by

step, and with a list of local facilities and icons indicating activities available. . Itineraries are graded Easy, Moderate and Strenuous. None are more than 4 miles. There is a geographical spread across the Park.

The focus and range of itineraries was clarified as the project developed and the selection provide a useful

resources for groups with a range of needs. Some “road testing” of the itineraries was undertaken with

groups visiting in the latter part of the project to test their usability. The list of itineraries is at Annex IV.

4. Project Evaluation

Inspironment aimed to support the disadvantaged to increase their skills and confidence to access the

benefits of outdoor activity. The Inspirational environment of the National Park provided a setting for

project activity. Participants in Group Leader training were enabled both to gain knowledge about what the

National Park has to offer to meet their groups needs, and to acquire skills and confidence to deliver

low/no-cost activities in wider outdoor environments.. Participants in Group Visits experienced the

National Park and a selection of activities 1st hand.

The tangible deliverables (such as training, group visits and itineraries) are relatively straight forward to

evidence. In order to capture the fuller impact of the project, i.e. the soft outcomes, baseline and follow on

surveys and feedback sessions were undertaken. Before and after surveys were taken both of the Group

Leaders and of the Participants in the visits, and formal opportunities for feedback given. Analysis of these

enables identification of the impacts of the project:

4.i Views of Community Group Leaders /Support staff on impact of Inspironment on

Participants

A. Group Leaders were asked about levels of outdoor activities amongst their groups: in a 6 weeks

period . The great majority were reported as undertaking such activity only once or twice or never in a 6

week period.

B. Group Leaders were asked about the Barriers to visiting. The two significantly biggest barriers were

Travel /travel cost and Lack of information.

C. Group Leaders were asked what they most enjoyed about the training day. A range of responses were

given. The statements given in 3ii above indicate that the main benefits felt were:

The practicality of the training; being able to learn in the field, including new skills and equipment

including Geocaching

The relaxed yet knowledgeable and professional trainers

Being in inspiring outdoor surroundings: woods, lakes, open Commonland

D. Group Leaders were asked before their groups visits about Perceived potential benefits for their

groups:

E. And then after their group visits about what they perceived to be the Actual benefits to group

participants. After taking part leaders found the health and wellbeing benefits to their group participants

to be much as expected. The gains in self confidence, self esteem and skills were much higher than

anticipated:

4.ii Impact of Inspironment on Participants :

BARRIERS & MOTIVATIONS

F. Participants were asked re Barriers. “what have been your main reason(s) for not doing outdoor

activities?” Weather and motivation proved the biggest barriers:

G. Participants were asked specifically about their barriers to visiting the National Park . Issues around the

distance and travel and around lack of knowledge showed as the biggest barriers:

H. They were asked why they had become involved in Inspironment activities. A range of reasons were

stood out, however health motivations were substantially less important than social ones:

IMPACT OF THE INSPIRONMENT PROGRAMME

I.100% of respondents to the post activity survey they thought Inspironment activities would benefit them.

J.67% of respondents had tried the activities again since their visit. And 65% had tried other outdoor

activities including: walking, geocaching, other sports ,litterpicking and photography.

K. Participants were asked about levels of outdoor activities: How many times in last 6 weeks have you

taken part in an outdoor activity? After the project there was a significant increase in self reported “ a few”

and “weekly” , and eradication of “never”. The number reporting “almost daily” declined, which may have

been the result of a new understanding of the definition of “outdoor activity”.

L. Participants were asked before and after attending whether they would make future visits to BBNP or

other outdoor spaces. The experience of participating encouraged a significant percentage of respondents

to move from being unsure to saying yes they would make future visits:

5. Summary

The evidence from the evaluation is that project objectives were achieved:

increase the skill levels of individual group leaders to enable them to act as inspirational figures within their

groups and support the delivery of replicable low cost activities, 96% of Group Leaders identified that

after the training they felt confident and able to run an outdoor activity.

promote the benefits the inspirational Brecon Beacons National Park environment offers to disadvantaged

groups 4iiE indicates that various benefits were received by participants, as identified by their

specialist Group leaders. Gains in self confidence, self esteem and skills matched those in health and

wellbeing.

improve the involvement of disadvantaged people in outdoor activity. 4.iiK &l. above indicate this is

happening as participants increase activity levels, try new activities and plan to visit again. Two

thirds had tried the activities again after visiting. And two thirds had tried new outdoor activities, a tremendous replication rate.

better understand the role of high quality landscapes in inspiring and enabling immediate wellbeing and

health benefits for socially excluded groups: evaluation indicates that whilst the benefits identified by

participants and their Group leaders were various including health and wellbeing, skills, confidence

and self esteem, the primary motivations were social. This helps inform promotion and targeting for

future inclusion activity delivery

The Inspironment Project has achieved its main aim of developing awareness and understanding of what,

the National Park can offer to leaders of and participants in groups working with disadvantaged people.

The Group Leaders have gained both activity leading skills and knowledge and an understanding of how

their groups’ specific needs can be met. The Participants have greater knowledge and confidence equipping

them to make more of the outdoor environment in general and national Park in particular. Brecon Beacons

National Park Authority has gained organisational knowledge of what it can offer to groups facing differing

disadvantages and how this can be done more effectively. This has been deployed in delivering the project

training and visits and in designing the Itineraries to be of use to a range of users.

We thank NRW and all partnership agencies and organisations we have worked with throughout the duration of the project.

ANNEX 1 – Groups worked with

Group or Agency

Group Type Supports Group

leader

training Group visit

Aneurin Bevan Health Board-

Assertive Outreach

Health Board People with social and

health difficulties 12/6/15

No further

support required.

Blaenau Gwent Social services.-

Men’s Den and Six Bells Walking

Group

Communities

First

Isolated individuals, older

unemployed men (Men’s

Den)

8/6/15 18/11/15

Blaenau Gwent Social services.-

Six Bells Walking Group

Communities

First

Isolated individuals,

-mixed older people

8/6/15

18/11/15

Age Cymru- Cwm Carers

Communities

First Blaenau

Gwent Carers

Project

Elderly carers

10/9/15

Cwm Carers

12/10/15

Age Cymru-ACESS

Communities

First Blaenau

Gwent Carers

Project

Isolated Elderly

10/9/15

A.C.E.S.S

9/11/15

Cardiff People's First

Communities

First

Learning

disabilities

People of all ages with

learning disabilities( to

campaign for rights)

8/7/15 16/10/16

Cardiff Young Carers

YMCA Cardiff Supports young carers

8/7/15

No further

support required

Change Step/Kaleidoscope

Recovery

Charity-

Substance

Misuse

People recovering from

substance misuse

8/6/15 17/7/15

The Congolese Community of

Wales

Community

Group

Congolese Community

supporting refugees and

asylum seekers and second 8/7/15

No further

support required

Group or Agency

Group Type Supports Group

leader

training Group visit

generation immigrant

Hafal

Mental Health

Charity

People recovering from

mental health issues and

their families. 8/7/15

21/10/15

10/2/16

Action for Children

National Charity Children and young people

with disabilities and their

parents and carers. 2/6/15 29/10/15

Links to recovery (SANDS)

Services for

recovery from

drug addiction

People recovering from

drug addiction and their

families 8/6/15 30/9/15

Powys Youth Intervention Service

Local Authority

Youth Services

Young people with

social/emotional/behavioural

difficulties 13/8/15 21/9/15

Stephens and George

Charitable trust

supporting

young people

Communities

First

Disadvantaged young

people in Merthyr Tydfil

10/9/15 28/10/15

TRAX/Georgetown Youth Club-

Local Authority

Youth clubs in

Merthyr

Young people in

disadvantaged areas of

Merthyr Tydfil 10/9/15 28/10/15

Torfaen day activities Wednesday

Warriors

Torfaen

Borough Council

Communities

first

People with severe learning

disabilities

2/6/15 5/8/15

Torfaen day activities Youth club

Torfaen

Borough Council

Communities

first

Young people with

additional needs

2/6/15 7/10/15

Children’s Brain Injuries Trust

National charity Children with acquired

brain injury and their

families. 12/6/15 22/12/15

Monmouthshire Young Carers Carers Trust SE Young carers 8/7/15 16/2/16

Group or Agency

Group Type Supports Group

leader

training Group visit

Wales

Powys Young Carers

Powys carers Young carers to 16 years

with respite and activities

12/6/15 30/3/16

ANNEX ll – Training Module

Brecon Beacons National Park

Day Trip Planning Questions

Know Before You Go

Numbers of your group?

What are their ages?

How to get there?

How long it will take?

What facilities are there?

Who will be helping you?

For the Day

What’s the weather forecast?

What equipment do you need?

Group’s medical conditions?

Food & drink?

Comfort breaks?

1st Aid provision?

Emergency kit?

Risk assessment?

Alternative plan?

After the Day

What went well?

What didn’t go well?

Anything you would do differently?

RECORD OF RISK ASSESSMENT The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSW Regs) require every employer to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of:-

The risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work and to others who may be affected by the work activities.

Evaluation of the risks.

Introduce measures to control the risks. Please ensure that you have undertaken Risk Assessment Training before completing this form and refer to the notes overleaf as required.

Department: Countryside Section:community Location: Mountain Centre

Work activity assessed: Walk from Mountain Centre across single track road along common to standing stone. Walk along track by road then cross road and over common to wall. Cross single track road then walk up to Twyn Y Gaer and return across single track road past pond, tank traps and return along the common to Mountain Centre..

Persons identified ‘at risk’: Staff, volunteers, course participants: .

Main hazards associated with this work activity: Road traffic accident or incident while walking across single track roads; slips, trips and falls while walking along, muddy

ground, steep slopes and uneven surfaces. Medical conditions, weather conditions, farm animals, dogs, insect bites and stings.

Frequency of exposure to hazards: Occasional. 3 hour activity

Potential severity of injury: Slight

Existing control measures in place to reduce risk: Safety instructions given in introduction and during the walk. Control road crossing with BBNPA staff traffic side of group. BBNPA leader to be in front of group adults spread between. Staff leading or undertaking these activities hold REC First Aid and carry a First Aid kit. At least one member of the

visiting staff to have a First aid qualification. Staff to hold WGL award or have been ratified to lead the activity by the Brecon Beacons National Park technical advisor. Guidance notes on what to wear will have been sent to visiting group leaders and all participants footwear and clothing

will be checked by National Park staff before undertaking the walk.

Assessed residual risk: (√)

Further preventative and protective measures required: Relevant staff to hold two meetings per year to discuss operational procedures relating to safety and good practice as

part of AALS self assessment programme. BBNPA staff to carry First Aid kit, and shelter tent.

Person/s responsible for implementing above measures: HR Manager, Managers, Technical advisor, Education officers, all leaders.

Assessment carried out by: Francesca Bell Position: Community Development Officer Date of Assessment: 28.5.15

ES/H&S/Forms/RAv1.0

GUIDANCE NOTES FOR COMPLETING THIS FORM

√

Rucksack Rummage

The following table is a recommended list of things to consider carrying within your group when

participating in outdoor activities; it is intended as a guide to work from rather than an absolute

must have for each time the group goes out. Items do not have to be carried by a single person and

could be spread throughout the group.

Essential Equipment list in Rucksack Packed () Missing (

Compass – preferred choice type 4 Silva compass

Maps- of the whole national park laminated

Sharpie pens

Group shelter – Large enough for size of group

Rescue Whistle

1st aid kit.

Crisis management contact sheet – (details of who to contact in an emergency )

Head Torch – with spare bulb and spare batteries

Plastic Survival bag (orange)

Insulation ( carrymat, sit mat )

Spare clothing (within group) hats (summer & winter), gloves, fleece/insulating layer.

Food (ie. Chocolate, snacks for emergencies )

1tr of spare water (for emergencies)

x2 High vis vest (for front & back markers, road crossings & high traffic

areas)

Spare laces, zip ties and gaffer tape (For running repairs)

NB all the above items are included in the Community Champions Rucksack and can be loaned from the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority’s Community Department to do so Please contact; Ceri Bevan Sustainable Communities Officer on 01874 620471 or ceri.bevan@beacons-npa.gov.uk

Walk activities

Colour palette

Resources:

Bookmark sized pieces of card with double sided sticky tape up the centre.

To record and remember your walk or visit ask your group to collect and stick to the card

a selection of leaves/colours from the natural environment. Or simply record the journey by

collecting small examples of things found along the way e.g. a small flower/ petal, leaf,

berry…

Compare colour palettes afterwards

Useful tips

These can be laminated and used as bookmarks or for a display.

Larger items do not stick very well and this activity does not work well in the rain.

Please only pick very common or fallen leaves/flowers.

Hang on to sticky tape strip. It is useful to cover centre of palette to transport home.

Avoid spiky/stingy and poisonous plants! Eg holly/nettles/foxgloves

Wash hands thoroughly afterwards.

Sounds

Spend 30 seconds to a minute with everyone in silence, listening to the sounds around

them.

Count the number of different sounds you hear.

Compare/list sounds afterwards

Useful tips Choose a place with a variety of potential sounds, away from a road.

Closing the eyes helps people to listen better .

Cupping hands behind the ears also helps.

Journey sticks

Resources

Wool in pre-cut lengths or balls of wool and scissors.

Dry sticks about 30 cm long.

Discuss how we get from one place to another e.g. using a map and compass or sat nav.

Tell them how Native Americans used to decorate a stick as a reminder of the places they passed on the route and

to tell others about it.

Show an example of a decorated stick and recite the journey it tells. The colour of the wool can represent the

terrain etc

eg green = grass. black =road, blue = water, yellow = sunshine and so on.

Things to collect: Leaves, feathers, sheep’s wool, bird’s feathers, pine cones, seeds.

grasses or blossom.

Demonstrate how to tie the wool onto the stick then wind it continuously around the stick.

Bind materials onto the stick by winding wool around or by tying knots. Change colour by winding one colour over

another.

Recalling journeys- each person describes their journey to someone else. Alternatively another person has to work

out their journey from the stick.

Useful tips:

Knots can be fiddly, winding over an end to hold it works better.

Straight sticks with few knobbly parts are easier to work with.

Attaching pre-cut lengths onto a separate stick for easy selection saves time and effort with balls of wool and scissors which

can get tangled.

Avoid prickly, stingy, poisonous plants

Only pick things which are common/lying on the ground.

Wash hands afterwards

Resource pack sent to participating groups

BBNP Pocket guide

Enjoying the BBNP

Waterfall Country Walks Pack

Waterfall County leaflet

What to see from the NPVC

Llanfoist walk

Rise and Fall of Penwyllt

Pen y Fan and Cribyn from Cwm Gwdi

Geotrail leaflets

Henrhyd Falls and Nant Lech

Henllys vale

Garn Goch

Brecon

Walks from the Mountain Centre

Kittiwake-walking in the Brecon Beacons

OS map OL13 laminated

OS map OL 12 laminated

ID charts- birds

Laminated ‘Getting active on the Canal’/National Park map

Journey sticks activity sheet-English /Welsh

ANNEX III –Evaluation Framework

Inspironment Evaluation Framework 2015

1. BOOKING FORM: To be completed by Group Leaders to capture essential administrative

information and the general benefits aimed for group members

2. INITIAL SURVEY-GROUP LEADER SURVEY: To capture Leader aspirations for taking part,

including health & wellbeing aims, and baseline information on group activity

3. END OF TRAINING DAY SURVEY-GROUP LEADER SURVEY: To capture feedback on training

day delivery, health & wellbeing benefits hoped for group, preferred activity types

4. INITIAL SURVEY-PARTICIPANT SURVEY To capture baseline information on outdoor activity

levels and motivations for getting involved

4a. END OF PARTICIPANT VISIT- BLANK SHEET TO CAPTURE RESPONSES TO THE TRAINING

5. FINAL SURVEY- GROUP LEADER FEEDBACK SURVEY (some time after participant visit): To

capture health & wellbeing and other benefits , changes in activity levels and types of activity.

6. FINAL SURVEY-PARTICIPANT SURVEY(some time after participant visit): To capture health &

wellbeing and other benefits , changes in activity levels and types of activity

Annex IV - List of Sample Itineraries

1 Craig Y Nos Country Park

2 Talybont on Usk

3 Taf Fechan near Merthyr

4 Gunpowder Works, Pontneddfechan

5 Llangors-The Lake Trail

6 Pen Y Crug near Brecon

7 Twyn y Gaer from the National Park Visitor Centre

8 Llanfoist

9 Sugar Loaf Mountain near Abergavenny.

10 Cribarth Mountain from Craig-y-nos

Annex V Sample itineraries

Taf Fechan and Llanfoist attached

Financial Summary

Expenditure type Estimated cost Actual Note

revenue 5314 3895.34

salaries 26674 27081.93

30977.27