From its very beginning, the aim of Coast Path Connectors was to introduce coastal walking to a range of new audiences and to improve equity of access along the South West Coast Path. The vision was to support local people in making the most of the amazing free resource that is our 630-mile long National Trail, and to support people’s health and wellbeing. Initially, this project was made possible through funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund; However, with this funding coming to an end early this year, and due to the incredible benefits that the project has had to date, the South West Coast Path Association looked into new avenues to allow our community outreach and engagement work to continue.
We are excited to officially announce that we are continuing our Coast Path Connectors work into 2025!
Our community outreach and engagement work
We have a full cohort of experienced and enthusiastic staff in our 5 key hub areas (Cornwall, Plymouth, Torbay, North Devon, and Dorset) who will be continuing to work with existing partner organisations as well as cultivating new collaborations in the coming year.
Our ongoing focus continues to be:
- Supporting local people to make the most of their local stretches on the South West Coast Path with particular emphasis on communities that don’t already access the Coast Path, or who would benefit from the health and wellbeing and connections to nature.
- Developing and training our volunteers to become walk leaders and walk buddies, so that they can continue leading walking groups into the future.
In 2025, we will be further developing our policies and procedures so that this important community engagement work is fully embedded into the core work of the Association. Alex Turner, CPC Project Manager says,
“It has been great to see the Coast Path Connectors go from strength to strength in the 5 hub areas, and the team are looking forward to continuing this work going forward into 2025.”
Thanks to our supporters
We are lucky to have received external funding to continue our important outreach work, with particular thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund and 29 May 1961 Charitable Trust for funding for the Coast Path Connectors project. Also, a grateful thanks goes to the Clare Milne Trust for their funding for accessible walks for people with disabilities, in Devon and Cornwall.
This year, we are being supported by Macmillan Cancer Support to deliver our open walks in Dorset. These are monthly walks delivered in Swanage, Lyme Regis and Weymouth and are open to any member of the local community who would benefit from joining in on a supported, friendly, accessible walk. We are also pleased to be continuing to deliver walks with the Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre in Plymouth and are delivering a series of walks to people affected by cancer and their supporters in the Kingsbridge area, as well as continuing our group in Plymouth.
For more information, or to get involved go to: www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/coast-path-connectors
The South West Coast Path 