User:LOAIDCG85/sandbox

Lancashire Outdoor Activities Initiative (LOAI) is a Registered Charity 1069324 and Company Limited by Guarantee. It was established in 1991 by a partnership of Lancashire County Council, The Sports Council and various local organisations and trusts. It was one of several similar initiatives and had start-up funding for a three-year period.

The Charitable purposes of the organisation relate to encouraging the positive use of the outdoors by all sectors of the community. In practice, this means offering opportunities for participation and access to facilities together with provision of training, advice and support.

Since the original start-up funding the LOAI has been predominately self-funding, using a business model that uses cross subsidy, with the more profitable activities allowing the provision of lower cost support for those aspects of the programme that need it.

LOAI delivers in charitable objectives at its two sites the Anderton Centre & High Rid Reservoir Centre.

On the 27th March 2019, The University of Bolton Group became the sole member of Lancashire Outdoor Activities Initiative. The collaboration brought with it a cash injection, and experienced new Trustees and Directors. LOAI’s aims remain the same in the provision of outdoor activities to advance education and improve quality of life.

LOAI was recognised as Best Outdoor Activity NPO 2020 - North West England & Leisure & Tourism and Charitable Organisation of the Year 2020 by the UK Enterprise Awards.