Mountain Guide, outdoor life coach, corporate training and other outdoor activities in Sheffield, the Peak District and beyond
Open Gates Outdoors provides a wide range of outdoor activities in urban and rural settings in and around Sheffield, the Peak District and beyond to corporate teams, individuals, and third sector groups. As well as mountain guiding and outdoor life coaching these activities can include forest bathing, forest school, and strategy and team building games. Why not go straight to the appropriate page for you or contact us direct to find out more about what Open Gates Outdoors can offer you or your organisation.....
Contact us to discuss how Open Gates Outdoors can...
work with your business in the outdoors to;
provide mountain guiding anywhere in the UK, including the Peak District, to improve the morale of your teams or support your charity fundraising activities including leading sponsored walks for your chosen charity,
improve the teamwork and leadership skills in your teams,
provide outdoor life coaching to your employees,
contribute greater social value to the community your company serves, and
promote Sheffield as a place to work and to do business.
work with individuals in the outdoors to;
provide mountain guiding,
provide outdoor life coaching,
improve your physical wellbeing and fitness,
improve your sense of belonging by giving you a greater sense of place, and
help you build your confidence as an independent walker so you can enjoy your own adventures.
work with your third sector orgaisation in the outdoors to;
hold a sponsored walk,
enjoy guided well being walks in the Peak District or any mountainous region in the UK, focusing on social history, geology, and flora and fauna, and
benefit from fun team games and forest school activities that develop the skills of your members including co-operation, understanding and communication.
Community Interest Company
Open Gates Outdoors is a Social Enterprise which is registered as a Community Interest Company.
Every payment received by Open Gates Outdoors helps it to make an impact on the health and wellbeing of vulnerable and isolated groups in the Sheffield area.
As a Community Interest Company we have to demonstrate a commitment to supporting the local community of Sheffield. We do this by providing quality outdoor experiences to coporate and individual partners and using proceeds from this to fund the provision of services to third sector partners, where possible, for free. We also work with third sector partners in joint bids for funding to support our activities.
Our core aim is to ensure that as many people as possible can access the tangible and well-established benefits of spending time purposefully in the outdoors.
What our partners say...
I cannot recommend Open Gates Outdoors highly enough. George made sure everyone felt safe, comfortable, and welcomed, constantly checking to make sure we were all okay and enjoying ourselves. George’s knowledge of the history of the area, and the local wildlife was outstanding and he shared fascinating facts about things we would never have noticed or appreciated without his expertise. What made the experience so special was George’s patience and kindness. He guided us at a pace that suited everyone, making sure no one felt rushed or pressured. Thanks to George, the walk was not only enjoyable but also educational and deeply relaxing. George’s professionalism, warmth, and passion for the outdoors shone through the whole day. I would highly recommend Open Gates Outdoors to anyone looking for a safe, supportive, and enriching outdoor experience.
Walker from Fir Vale Community Hub, Sheffield
“George was very knowledgeable about the surrounding area, providing great bits of information along the way keeping us all chatting. This was a brilliant opportunity for our young people to experience the outdoors, when so much of their time is spent inside. The young people helped to navigate with a map with help from George. The young people said they loved the experience, and would definitely want to go on another walk soon. A huge thank you to George, who they thought was really good company and made them feel comfortable on the walk, having lots of positive conversations along the way. He was sure to include everyone in the experience, and motivate those who were getting worn out to carry on.”
Rachel, Residential Project Worker. Roundabout
"Open Gates provided an excellent opportunity for the Darnall community to venture out of the city, discover new places and be in awe of stunning views over 8 walks in the Peak District. George enthusiastically shared his passion and knowledge of the Peak District and welcomed, encouraged, supported, engaged with and included all. The magic of the outdoors together with George's safe leadership and nurturing of the teamwork and cohesion in the group had a significant impact on physical and mental well being. Thank you George for lots of fun too"
Joanne Hopkinson, Project Support Worker. Darnall Well Being
Compliance
Open Gates Outdoors is appropriately qualified to work as a mountain guide and as a life coach and to lead groups in the outdoors and has appropriate third party liability and professional indemnity insurance for the activities we deliver. All individuals providing services on behalf of Open Gates Outdoors will be fully qualified and hold clear Enhanced DBS checks. We are qualified by Sheffield City Council (MiDAS) to drive mini buses of up to 17 people and have the appropriate license to charge for this service. This significantly reduces the costs of transport. Open Gates Outdoors holds all relevant internal policies relating to issues such as GDPR and safeguarding adults and young people. All activities will be rigorously risk assessed by Open Gates Outdoors in consultation with our partners. Copies of any regulatory and compliance documentation can be provided on request.
The Open Gates Outdoors Team
Open Gates Outdoors is a team effort. The company benefits from the variety of expertise of its freelancers and the professionalism and breadth of experience of its board of directors.
George Yates - Founder and Director
George is a qualified life coach and mountain guide who founded Open Gates Outdoors in April 2023. He was born in Sheffield and has lived in the City all his adult life. George has long believed that it is a matter of social justice that everyone has the opportunity to improve their physical and mental wellbeing by enjoying the outdoors. He is an active fell runner and walker and is committed to supporting others, whatever their social background, ethnicity, gender or age, to benefit from the environment we are blessed with in and around Sheffield including, but not limited to, the Peak District.
George is qualified by Mountain Training to lead groups and individuals in all mountainous areas of the UK and is experienced in leading school and adult groups in the outdoors. George has successfully completed training in Health Coaching accredited by the Personalised Care Institute (PCI) and has completed a Level 5 certificate in Effective Coaching and Mentoring accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM). George is also a qualified Mental Health First Aider through Mental Health First Aid England.
George is knowledgeable and inquisitive about his home city and its surrounding area. He has always wanted to find out more by exploring but also by reading books such as the Annual Handbooks of Sheffield Clarion Ramblers (1921-1964), and Historic Hallamshire (David Hey, 2002). Prior to setting up Open Gates Outdoors George worked in education in Sheffield for 17 years. Firstly as a learning mentor in a secondary school in north Sheffield which included leading the outdoor education programme and which confirmed to him the power of the outdoors to give confidence and improve life chances. George then taught A level History, Politics and Sociology at a sixth form college in north Sheffield for 12 years. Before working in education George worked for 10 years as a corporate/commercial solicitor in Sheffield and Nottingham.
Open Gates Outdoors’ Non-Executive Directors
Dan Stowers
Dan is a partner in a national 100 law firm and has practiced law since his qualification in 1997. He specialises in financial crime and compliance and is also a freelance mountain leader. Dan brings invaluable advice and guidance on regulatory and compliance issues as well as outdoor leadership best practice. Dan practised as a lawyer in Sheffield for many years and has significant knowledge of the commercial sector in Sheffield.
Jack Leach
Jack has over 25 years’ experience working in conservation, and land management in the Sheffield area. He has provided environmental education, training and volunteer supervision to many in Sheffield including corporate and community groups. Jack is an active volunteer in several community projects.
James Parramore
James is Managing Director Ross Care (a national provider and maintainer of equipment for the disabled and elderly). He joined Ross Care in 2011 and was appointed MD in 2015. James has over 30 years experience working in customer focused businesses, including Marks and Spencer in the UK and Myer in Australia. As well as commercial acumen, James has significant knowledge of the commercial sector in Sheffield.
Maxine Blake
Maxine worked as a teacher in Sheffield for over 35 years and has written two books on her experiences. Maxine currently works at Sheffield Hallam University training new teachers and has always been involved in community initiatives in Sheffield including those supporting minorities. Maxine also provides invaluable guidance on working with young people.
Open Gates Outdoors’ Freelancers
Dan Stowers
Dan is a qualified Mountain Leader, Leader in Fell Running Fitness, National Navigation Award Scheme Tutor and fully remote first aid trained. Dan has significant experience in leading groups in the UK mountains. He is an avid fell runner having successfully competed in many fell and ultra-distance races including Dark Peak 30 (Peak District), Fellsman (Yorkshire Dales), and Old County Tops (Lake District).
Dale Le Fevre
Dale has 40 years’ experience of facilitating strategy games to corporates and to community groups and charities. He has also published several books and produced DVDs sharing his experiences in this field. Dale's New Games CD ROM has been published in 4 languages.
Penny Collier
Penny is a qualified Hill and Moorland Leader and makes her living outdoors leading walks, teaching navigation, supporting Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and delivering Bikeability training in schools. Penny is also a member of Dark Peak Fell Runners and the Rucksack Club.
Adam Batty
Adam is a qualified forest school leader, facilitator, and community development worker. Adam has worked in the community sector for 15 years specialising in forest school education. Adam is passionate about and experienced in creating outdoor activities and environments which enable corporate and other teams to use nature to develop and improve effectiveness.
Katy Draper
As a qualified Hill and Moorland and Lowland Leader Katy's work in the outdoors has included work for Ramblers Holidays and the Mind over Mountains mental health charity as well as experience supervising and assessing DofE groups. She is an active member of the Mountain Training Association, Katy is a search technician with the Leicestershire Search and Rescue Team.