Head Outside 2023 Winners
The amazing people and organisations who have won awards in 2023.
Organisation Winners
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Organisation Winners –
Jamie’s Farm
Outstanding Organisation 2023 Winner
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The Outstanding Organisations award celebrates an organisation that harnesses the power of outdoor activity to promote and enhance positive mental health. They are ambassadors for promoting good health and wellbeing policies with a clear commitment to supporting both beneficiaries and staff mental health.
The Wave Project harnesses the power of the ocean to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children & young people. Over 6,000 volunteer surf mentors deliver free, life-changing surf therapy sessions everyday.
What they have achieved in the space of time they have is outstanding and nothing short of inspirational. They don't just offer Surf Therapy, their Wave Rangers programme uses the power of nature, conservation and volunteering to help boost young peoples wellbeing.
They are pioneers in harnessing the power of our natural world for better mental health with a dedicated staff team who are fully supported in the work they do.
Blue Mind Men
Changemaker 2023 Winner
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The Change Maker Awards celebrates an organisation that has created meaningful change to the way we support people with their mental health through impactful activities, projects or policies. The 2022 award went to World Challenge (@weareworldchallenge) for their decision to make Mental Health First Aid mandatory for all Expedition Leaders and Operational Staff; not only the first organisation in the adventure industry to do so, but one of the very first in any industry in the UK.
For over 30 years, World Challenge have enabled transformative travel experiences right around the world. These experiences complement school learning, giving students the opportunity to become true life-learners and true global citizens. They are transformative experiences that have a profound benefit on young people's mental health and their ability to face future challenges.
By making MHFA mandatory along with the introduction of Wellness Support Plans, World Challenge have made student travel not only safe and more supportive, but more inclusive and accessible for young people with mental health challenges.
Adventure Queens
Ways To Wellbeing 2023 Winner
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This award celebrates an organisation who facilitate the 5 ways to wellbeing by providing outdoor or adventurous activities. The 5 Ways to Wellbeing are: Give, Connect, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Be Active.
The details below are taken from April 2019 to December 31st 2021 and will be further updated in June 2022. As of December 2021 they have delivered the following throughout the UK:
53 walking events
8 climbing events
15 paddle events
12 indoor bouldering sessions
3 NNAS bronze award training courses
7 Mountain Training Mountain Skills training courses
Of the above, 79% of events were delivered in England, 6% in Scotland, and 15% in Wales. Within the reporting period we took a 7 month hiatus from activities due to the COVID pandemic.
All of which created pathways to the 5 Ways to Wellbeing
Individual Winners
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Individual Winners –
Alex Staniforth (Mind Over Mountains)
Wellbeing Warrior 2023 Winner
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This award celebrates an individual who in overcoming mental health challenges, have dedicated their lives to improving the mental health and wellbeing of others.
The winner of the 2022 Wellbeing Warrior Award went to Jess Robson. I’m Jess is runner who is fiercely intent on helping others discover the true value in running for mental health maintenance. Jess creates spaces that allow people to support people. She create spaces for people to feel ‘heard’.
There are two things that propelled Jess out of her depression, anxiety and bulimia. The first was running, the second was community.
Jess would like to see more ‘beginner runners’ discovering how truly powerful the running community can be to aid in recovery.
In October 2017, Jess established a wonderful team of running mental health warriors, – Run Talk Run. They are a global mental health support community, hosting worldwide runs for people to connect weekly with a jog and chat.
Jess also works for a mental health organisation delivering talks and training. She is the epitome of a Wellbeing Warrior.
Bridget Adams-Shaw (Honey Hope Farm)
Inspiring Individual 2023 Winner
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This award celebrates an individual who in overcoming mental health challenges, have dedicated their lives to improving the mental health and wellbeing of others.
Fitting in is never easy and a personality disorder diagnosis makes being on the outside a daily reality. That was true for Mental Health Swims @mentalhealthswims7599) founder Rachel Ashe and worthy winner of the Inspirational Winner Award. Trying new activities felt daunting but on New Years day 2019, Rachel found the courage to join a group swim and this sparked a fire in her. Amazed at the positive effects of cold-water, she started a monthly swim meet-up at her local beach. This meet-up became Mental Health Swims, a social enterprise fighting stigma through cold-water and community.
Mental Health Swims welcome anyone along to their swim meet ups and are proud to have more than 150 swim locations UK-wide and beyond. Participants can swim, dip, paddle or toe-dip and can do what they are most comfortable with – they are firmly focused on dips, not distance and community, not competition. They have trained more than 350 volunteers to facilitate inclusive, safe and welcoming swims.
Marlon Patrice (We Go Outside Too)
Sam Hill Rising Star 2023 Winner
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This video talks about suicide.
This award celebrates an individual (or individuals) who have undertaken a significant outdoor challenge that has had a significant outcome in one or more of the areas:
• Raising awareness of mental health
• Campaigned for change
• Challenged stigma
• Fundraising for a mental health charity
• Promoted the mental health benefits of outdoor activity
This award is in memory of Sam Hill who tragically ended his life in 2018. Our Founder Stu wanted to keep Sam's memory alive and the Head Outside Awards were away to do just that.
The 2022 award went to 3 Dads Walking. 3 Dads Walking set out to change the law and stop other families from going through the heartache that they experienced.
Mike Palmer, Andy Airey and Tim Owen, who all lost their daughters to suicide, completed an epic challenge to walk to all four UK parliaments in a bid to get suicide prevention onto the school curriculum.
Their courage, vulnerability and passion to prevent young people, like Sam from ending their life through education and awareness made them the perfect fit for the inaugural awards. Sam's sister gave a very moving speech before Any of 3 Dads Walking received the award which moved the entire audience and she is a hero in her own right too.