Heeley Trust Explore Gleadless Valley award
We are delighted to announce the awarding of a grant to the Heeley Trust for their innovative project, "Explore Gleadless Valley." This project aims to introduce local families to the sport of orienteering while fostering a sense of community and confidence in exploring the beautiful woodlands of Gleadless Valley.
Project Overview
The Gleadless Valley is an area of social deprivation in Sheffield with a high percentage of forest. When you run through it is easy to think you might be in Sweden but it feels very different for local people who don’t feel safe exploring the local woodlands.
The "Explore Gleadless Valley" project will take place at Hang Bank Wood, near the Bankwood Primary School in the Sheffield area in August 2025. It is backed by the Heeley Trust Community Hub, a local charity supporting the local community. The project will feature two family fun days filled with picnic food and orienteering activities led by Pauline Tryner, SYO's development officer. Local families will be invited through various partners, including schools, Family Hub, Gleadless Valley Partnership, Wildlife Trusts, HAF, GP practices, and Newfield Green Library.
Our support will help cover the development officers sessions, maps, equipment and publicity.
Objectives and Impact
The primary goal is to introduce new juniors and families to the sport of orienteering and to promote map-reading skills. Additionally, it aims to encourage participation in the Sheffield Schools League, which has seen extremely low uptake from the area. The long-term plan includes updating local maps, hosting school league events, and encouraging local schools to have orienteering sessions.
This project will also enhance the participants' experience of orienteering and provide long-term benefits to the orienteering community in the Gleadless Valley area. By introducing people to MapRun as a sustainable activity and encouraging local schools to participate, the project aims to create a lasting impact on the community.
We look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of the project and the growth of orienteering in the local community.