Supporting outdoor spaces and youth engagement with nature

Hope Cement Works in Derbyshire supported outdoor play and learning by hosting a forest school, funding an outdoor classroom, providing play equipment for local schools, and sponsoring a Wilderness Therapeutic Programme for Year 6 pupils in Hope Valley.

Challenge

Outdoor learning and nature-based therapy provide children with a wide range of physical and emotional benefits.

A 2024 study by the University of Glasgow found that children who spend more time in natural environments experience significantly better mental health. This is particularly important in light of a 2023 NHS report, which revealed that one in five children and young people aged 8 to 25 had a probable mental disorder. In this context, connecting young people with nature and outdoor spaces has never been more crucial and Breedon is committed to fostering the growth of outdoor spaces and promoting stronger connections between young people and nature in the communities surrounding our sites.

Solution

Our Hope Cement Works in Derbyshire has played a key role in supporting various outdoor play and learning initiatives throughout 2024, making a material difference to our local communities.

In 2024, Hope Cement Works supported several outdoor play and learning initiatives, positively impacting local communities. Partnering with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, they funded a forest school, hosting 1,236 primary school pupils. They also donated £2,000 to the Nightingale Centre, helping disadvantaged children experience outdoor activities. Breedon contributed £10,000 to Hope and Edale School for an outdoor classroom, enhancing education in a natural setting. Additionally, they supported Bamford Primary School with £1,500 for a forest school and provided over £4,000 in playground equipment to Bradwell Primary School.

Hope Cement Works also sponsored the Wild Time Wilderness Therapeutic Programme for Year 6 pupils at Valley Federation Primary Schools, helping students build self-awareness and emotional intelligence as they transition to secondary education. These initiatives highlight the company’s commitment to fostering outdoor learning and personal development in local communities.

The teaching staff also noticed many positive impacts, sharing observations such as:

• "He has shown more collaboration in unstructured times in school"

• "She showed real resilience and trust in her peers by the end of Wild Time." 

• "...grew in her feelings of acceptance" 

• " ...said that he was less worried about his move to secondary school now", "...seemed to grow in her trust of her peers".

Through these initiatives, Breedon has shown its dedication to nurturing the growth of outdoor spaces and fostering lasting connections between young people and nature in the communities surrounding our Hope Cement Works.