Championing National Parks
Championing National Parks for Everyone
The Championing National Parks for Everyone (CNPfE) project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and led by the charity Peak District Mosaic in collaboration with Yorkshire Dales, Peak District and North York Moors National Park Authorities, and Derbyshire Dales CVS.
Our vision is that everyone be confident to visit and enjoy our National Parks. This means that everyone can receive the health and wellbeing benefits of spending time in the National Parks and has the knowledge to help protect them. However, we know there are inequalities in accessing the National Parks, including for people from ethnically diverse communities.
Having started in 2024 and running until late 2026, this project aims to support more people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities to have the skills and resources to build a lifelong relationship with their National Parks.
The aims of the CNPfE Project
We have been delivering a range of opportunities across and around the three National Parks to work with people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities to:
- Support more people to connect with nature and enjoy the National Parks.
- Deliver outdoor activity days and training events that develop skills, confidence and awareness of the benefits of National Parks.
- Deliver training sessions and provide resources to create a network of Community Champions, who are empowered to lead their own visits that introduce others to the National Parks in the way they think best.
- Provide new employment and training opportunities in the sector.
- Provide a variety of volunteering opportunities meeting the needs and interests of these communities.
To find out more visit the Peak District Mosaic website.
Monthly activity events
We have been working with various community groups to co-design and co-deliver activity days out in the Peak District for their members, catering to a variety of needs. To date we have run thirteen different events for different community groups, which have enabled over 300 people to experience the National Park, most of them for the very first time. Events have included guided walks and exploring the National Park by bike, but have also included conservation activities such as tree planting, and a big celebration picnic in the summer which brought together over 70 people from many different community groups.
The aspiration is that by attending one of these guided events people will gain the confidence, and be keen, to visit again. Many of these activities have included family groups, with children accompanied by an adult, and feedback from the events has been very positive.
Community Champion Training Programme
A Community Champion is... a curious, adaptable and open-hearted individual who is eager to explore the natural world, connect with other like-minded individuals and inspire interest in others about our National Parks.
At the heart of the CNPfE project is the 6-month Community Champion Training programme, which supports individuals to gain the skills and knowledge needed for them to run safe and enjoyable activities within the National Park for friends, family and community members. This model builds on the success of previous projects and aims to leave a legacy of Community Champions who will support others to visit in the future, and who will themselves be further supported by the charity Peak District Mosaic after their initial training.
The Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the North York Moors National Park Authorities have each been delivering three cohorts of Community Champion Training during 2025, which has created opportunities for many hundreds of people who might not otherwise have visited the National Parks, to begin to create their own personal relationships with these places.
In the Peak District National Park, 32 individuals have trained as Community Champions, and all have now used their training to lead successful events at different locations of their choice, across the National Park. Most of the events included guided walks, but many of our Community Champions also organised tours of some of the Peak District's spectacular caves and caverns, or incorporated art activities, or foraging sessions, or even arranged a 'Dark Skies' activity - bringing in an experienced guide and telescopes to enable the participants to admire and learn about the night sky.
These events have enabled 307 participants from communities new to the National Park to experience the varied and stunning landscapes of the Peak District, build confidence in visiting the outdoors, make new connections, and develop a sense of belonging in this landscape.
A downloadable digital resource has been created, showcasing 5 of our Champion's walking routes, at different locations across the National Park. Varying in length from a 1 ½ hour stroll to a 5 hour hike, these routes take in some stunning scenery and historical locations. Have a look and discover a new part of the National Park for yourself! You can download your own copy of the resource, which contains links for all the walking routes, from our webpage about Walking in the Peak District
Community Champions will continue to be supported by Peak District Mosaic during 2026, with the offer of future training opportunities and CNPfE networking events where Community Champions from all three National Parks will get together to share experiences and best practice.
The Championing National Parks for Everyone project is made possible through the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
