Peak District charity celebrates connecting over 1,000 people in under-represented communities with National Parks

Published on behalf of Peak District Mosaic

Community Champions from the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks come together to celebrate results of a two-year project that has introduced over 1,000 people from ethnically and culturally diverse communities to the National Parks on their doorstep.

Delivered across the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks from July 2024 to June 2026, the project Championing National Parks for Everyone, trained local volunteers from ethnically and culturally diverse communities as Community Champions. The training equipped them with the skills, knowledge and confidence to plan and lead safe, enjoyable National Park visits, enabling people from their communities to experience the benefits of connecting with nature. The project created improved employment pathways for people from diverse communities in the outdoor sector; while also informing the practice of the National Park Authorities in working with diverse communities.

The project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, was co-ordinated by the charity Peak District Mosaic alongside National Park partners.

"It was one of the best things I’ve done in my life. National parks belong to everyone and encouraging engagement with nature leads to better decision-making and preserves cultural heritage." - Community Champion

Why is this project needed?

Research has shown that despite ethnically diverse populations living close to UK National Parks (20% of people in Sheffield, 43% in Manchester and 26% in Derby, according to the last census (Office for National Statistics)), 95% of visitors to these parks identified as White British or Irish (Peak District National Park). Similar gaps exist around the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, where visitor surveys have found ethnic minority visitors make up under 5% of total visitors. This is despite significant BAME populations in nearby cities.

"I find that a lot of people I speak to are really worried that the countryside, or green spaces, or basically being far out of the city, can be quite unsafe, especially for ethnic minorities." – Community Champion

Since July 2024, the project reached 1391 participants, of which 96% were first-time visitors to a National Park. 57% of participants identified as Asian, 17% as Black and 10% as White. They rated their likelihood of returning to a National Park at an average of 9.5 out of 10, and their confidence to do so at 9.4 out of 10.

"After getting this training, we will have more knowledge about National Parks and we can motivate our community... these are the good places, and we can take them there." – Community Champion

Celebrating the project success and planning for the future

The celebration event, held on 11-12 July 2026, gives Community Champions from all three National Parks the chance to meet, share their experiences and discuss how they will use their new skills in the future. The event will also mark the 10-year anniversary of establishing the charity Peak District Mosaic. It also provides an opportunity to start building relationships between Champions from different parks so they can continue to grow the community across the National Parks.

Tansy Hutchinson, Development Manager, Peak District Mosaic said: "This project has been a privilege, and I’m looking forward to celebrating what we have achieved together this weekend. As the project lead, we at Peak District Mosaic have been able to follow the progress made by the people taking part in the training, and it’s nothing short of amazing.

National Parks are outstandingly beautiful places. Being able to visit, enjoy and care for them is hugely beneficial for our physical health and mental well-being. The support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund means that, working together with our partners in the National Parks, we have been able to continue the legacy of what began several years ago as a national programme led by the Campaign for National Parks. We now want to build that legacy further, creating a longer term network so Champions can continue to support one another to champion the parks into the future."

Acknowledgements from Peak District Mosaic

Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK's heritage. Peak District Mosaic is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Peak District Mosaic would also like to thank:

• The Wafer Hadley, the cultural impact consultancy and the University of Derby for carrying out the evaluation of the project.
• The Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Park Authorities for their continued partnership
• Youth Hostel Association, Campaign for National Parks and Derbyshire Dales Council for Voluntary Service for their continued support.
• The Peak District Foundation, North York Moors National Park Trust and Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust for their match funding.