We’re thrilled to share that Sunbeams has been awarded funding from The National Lottery Awards for All to launch a brand-new programme of movement-based and outdoor group sessions for girls across our community. Thanks to National Lottery players, we can now create exciting new opportunities that young people themselves have been asking for.

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Over the past year, girls told us repeatedly that they wanted more ways to move, be outdoors and connect with nature. Many face isolation, anxiety or low confidence, and struggle to access mainstream activities due to cultural or language barriers. With this new funding, we can respond directly to what they asked for.

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Starting this autumn, we will be running weekly gardening and watersports groups in partnership with The Leaside Trust, with expert eco-active gardening instructors and watersports coaches. Each session includes an hour of paddlesports or gardening, followed by an hour of Sunbeams’ socio-emotional skills development. These activities create space for joy, teamwork, friendships and confidence-building — and our pilot showed just how impactful they can be, with more than 90% of girls reporting improvements in wellbeing and social connection.

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Here’s how one Youth Network member responded to the news:

“We kept asking for more outdoor and movement groups, and you really listened. It feels amazing to see it actually happening.”

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We are incredibly grateful for this support. Thank you to everyone who plays the National Lottery — your contribution is helping girls access opportunities they would otherwise never have.

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We can’t wait to share updates, photos and stories as the sessions begin.

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