Worcestershire-based not-for-profit outdoor education provider Boundless Outdoors has opened a new dining and events space, as it celebrates an anniversary and record numbers of schools.
Established in 2013, Boundless was born after the council decided to outsource its outdoor education and has become one of Worcestershire’s leading not-for-profit outdoor education providers. For more than a decade, Boundless has welcomed over 181 schools and hosted around 16,938 overnight stays at its centres in Malvern and Bell Health, offering activities that help students build confidence and improve their teamwork skills.
To mark 13 years of outdoor education at Boundless’ Malvern site, a new dining and events space has been opened. This space, known as The Canopy, was officially opened in June this year by the Mayor of Worcester, replacing the old dining room that had stood at the centre for 110 years.
The Canopy has been designed to bring the outdoors in by exposing pupils to lots of natural light and views of the woodland environment through large windows.
On the importance of the space, Nick Hands, CEO of Boundless Outdoors, said: “This building is so much more than a dining room. The old one was 110 years old and had given incredible service to thousands of young people, but it was time. The Canopy has been designed to sit right within the trees, so that even when children come inside they never lose that connection to the outdoors
“We often forget that sitting down together for a meal has become a rarity for many families. This space gives children the chance to do exactly that: to gather, to talk, to laugh and to dream up what tomorrow might bring. That is what outdoor education is really about, and now we have a building that is genuinely worthy of it.”
The Canopy will be also be used for private events such as weddings and celebrations, the income from which will directly fund the company’s education efforts.
Celebrating a record year
Boundless Outdoors reported a record turnover for the year ending 31st March 2026, with all profits being fed back into its two centres, According to the company, approximately 10,600 pupils visit Boundless Outdoors every year, with nearly half of schools in the UK using its centres and 90 per cent of those returning.
Chairperson of Boundless Outdoors, Beverley Nielsen said: “This has been a year of real progress and what matters most is where that money goes. As a not-for-profit, we reinvest into our centres and community, giving more young people the chance to experience the outdoors and creating jobs and apprenticeships for local people.”
Nick Hands added: “A child might arrive nervous, but by the end of their stay they’ve led their classmates across the high ropes, seeing that moment is very special. That’s why we do this.”
School trips to Boundless
The activity centres cater to all age groups and run workshops for each Key Stage. A wide variety of activities is on offer, including climbing, zip wires, and archery, designed to bring students out of their comfort zone while surrounded by nature.
For younger Key Stage 2 groups, Boundless Outdoors offers curriculum days designed to enrich their classroom learning. Teachers can choose from courses such as Victorian Water Cure and Rocks and Fossils for an interactive day outside.
For Year 7s, the team plan tasks and activities that focus on team work and bonding in order to help ease the transition to secondary school and strengthen new friendships.
GCSE and A-Level groups can take part in a range of activities focused on specific subjects including biology, geography and PE. From fieldwork studies, tailor-made sessions and hands-on learning, teachers can adapt the workshops to their own curriculum.
For more information go to boundlessoutdoors.co.uk.
