US company helps children discover the Peak Park

The Peak District National Park Foundation has secured $12,000 (£8,849) funding through Hydro Flask’s Parks for All giving programme, now in its fifth year.

The funding will support the Peak District’s Ambassador Schools programme, which provides practical support enabling more children to experience the outdoors.

It will benefit children from eight primary schools, including some communities living with significant health inequalities, surrounding the National Park. The grant will fund transport into the Peak District, training for specialist volunteers to support the schools and waterproof suits and wellies for the children who don’t have appropriate clothing for outdoor activities. It will also pay for litter picking kits and outdoor experience kits – including bug boxes and mini microscopes – to inspire children to become the next generation of nature lovers.

Hydro Flask is an award-winning leader in high-performance, insulated stainless steel flasks and soft good innovations and a brand of leading global consumer products company, Helen of Troy Limited.

Over the last five years, it’s Parks for All giving programme has granted over £1.8m to 151 non-profit organisations globally. Beneficiaries are organisations focused on building, maintaining, restoring and providing more equal access to public parks and spaces. This year, some community education programmes are a focus in some grantees’ projects.

The Peak District National Park Foundation is one of four European organisations to receive a 2022 grant.

Fundraising manager Sarah Slowther said: “We are delighted to be chosen to join the Parks for All family. Hydro Flask’s generous grant will help us to connect children to nature across the National Park and beyond. We all know the importance of getting outside for young people – from improving mental and physical health to confidence building and encouraging teamwork. We can’t wait to get started to help children discover the joy of the outdoors.”

Indigo Teiwes, housewares director of corporate responsibility at Helen of Troy, added: “We are thrilled to celebrate five years of giving through Parks for All. We believe that the outdoors and green spaces lead to healthier, happier and more fulfilled lives. Everyone deserves the mental and physical benefits that the outdoors can provide and we’re proud to partner with organisations whose work makes this a reality for so many.”  

Pye Bank CE Primary School in Sheffield is one of the Peak District’s Ambassador Schools. A spokesman said: “We are delighted to be working with the Peak District National Park as part of their Ambassador School scheme. We believe that it will offer huge benefits for our children in terms of wellbeing and engaging them in activities linked to the natural world. We are excited to be working with park rangers in developing fun and interesting activities linked to the school curriculum. It will open up opportunities which are often not available to our pupils.”

Since 2017, Parks For All funding has helped more than 60,000 people spend 382,000 hours outside, including more than 35,000 children. Additionally, more than 600 workshops and training sessions have been held and almost 30,000 kg of litter have been removed through the programmes of Parks for All grantees.