A LOTTERY windfall will be used to help youngsters feel part of the North Pennines AONB and UNESCO Global Geopark.
The North Pennines AONB Partnership received £249,970 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a new project to inspire children and young people about the world around them, connect them with nature and improve their wellbeing.
Expanding Horizons will work with schools in selected areas that face particular challenges, to get the students out and about in the stunning landscapes of the AONB and Geopark, interacting with it, learning from it and enjoying it.
There will be opportunities to connect with schools in other UNESCO Global Geoparks and share their special places and new activities for pre-school children, families and carers.
The project also aims to make key locations more accessible to a wider range of people through developing high quality online information to help people visit with confidence, particularly young people with autism and their families.
Naomi Foster, geology projects officer, said: “We are excited to be building on our work with children and young people and we believe it’s important to be focusing on wellbeing at this time and the benefits that a connection to nature can bring.
“We’re also very much looking forward to working with organisations such as the North East Autism Society and Children North East and of course the young people themselves to help us develop and get the most from this project.”
School visits will start after the spring half term and the pre-school group begins at the North Pennines AONB Partnership’s Bowlees Visitor Centre in April.
For more information about events and activities visit the website at northpennines.org.uk
New programme Expanding Horizons aims to connect young people with nature in the North Pennines
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