About

About TOPC

Twechar Outdoor Pursuits Centre is a community‑driven adventure hub offering accessible outdoor activities, learning opportunities and shared spaces for individuals, groups and organisations across Twechar and the surrounding areas. We provide a safe, inclusive environment where people can connect, develop new skills and enjoy the outdoors together.

Our Purpose

At the heart of the centre is a simple belief, outdoor adventure should be open to everyone. Through activities like canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, rock climbing and land-based learning, we help people build confidence, develop new skills, and discover the joy of being outdoors.

We work closely with youth groups, community organisations, and families to create experiences that are safe, inclusive, and fun!

What We Offer

Our centre delivers a wide range of outdoor activities and community programmes, including:

  • Activity sessions for all ages and abilities

  • Birthday Parties for everyone from young adventurers to adults who want a party with a difference!

  • School and youth programmes designed to support learning, wellbeing, and personal development

  • Corporate and team-building experiences focused on communication, resilience, and team challenges

  • Community events that bring people together through adventure

Every session is delivered by qualified and experienced instructors who prioritise safety, learning, and enjoyment.

Our Approach

Everything we do is shaped by three core principles that guide how we develop, deliver, and reflect on every experience.

  • Quality and Safety at the Core

  • Inclusive and Accessible for All

  • Shaped by Our Community and Participants

Our Team

  • A man climbing a rock wall outdoors, wearing a helmet, reaching upward with his right arm, smiling.

    Ash - Centre Manager

    Ash leads the day‑to‑day running of Twechar Outdoor Pursuits Centre with a calm, friendly, and inclusive approach.

    With an incredibly diverse background in outdoor leadership and adventure, from ski schools and dive centres to multi‑day guiding and residential programmes. He draws on that experience to ensure every session is safe, welcoming, and accessible.

  • Joanne - Instructor/Coach

    Joanne is one of our core instructors at TOPC, and with over 7 years of experience leading groups out on the water, she is happy to coach beginners and experienced paddlers alike.

    With a strong interest in coaching, leadership and development she also plays a pivotal role in developing the team at TOPC, and helping to upskill our volunteers.

  • Ed - Instructor

    With over 15 years of experience in the outdoor sector, Ed brings a wealth of multi‑discipline expertise to the team. Having worked across all areas of the industry he is great at supporting groups of all ages and abilities.

    Now studying ecology part‑time, he is passionate about connecting people with the natural world.

  • A woman and a young girl planting a seedling in a garden bed outdoors on a sunny day.

    Meg - Youth Worker

    Meg is one of our fantastic youth workers, who has over 15 years experience working with the youth of Twechar and beyond.

    Meg’s commitment to the community is unwavering and she takes pride in all that her hard work has helped both TCA bad TOPC to achieve!

  • Barry - SUP Instructor

    Ever cheerful, Barry is always the first to step in to lend a hand and help out the team. Currently working towards his SUP Coach you’ll often see him about on the Canal practicing and putting his drysuit to good use!

    “Barry, he is just.. well Barry” - Joanne

  • Claire - Volunteer

    Someone who is always there to help in our busiest moments, Claire has decided to embrace her love for the outdoors and volunteer at the centre.

    On her days off you will often find her out in nature, wild swimming, climbing or just basking in the sun.

A peaceful scene of a river running alongside a dirt path, with bare trees on both sides and mist rising from the water, sun shining through the branches in a clear winter sky.
Four people kayaking on a calm body of water with cloudy skies and bushes along the shoreline.
A group of five people kayaking on a calm river surrounded by trees and bushes, with cloudy skies overhead.
A woman with curly hair wearing a black quilted jacket is looking at a row of paddleboards stored vertically on a wall in a shop.
A black bicycle with a battery pack attached to the frame in front of a green sign reading 'Twechar Outdoor Pursuits Centre' outside a modern building with a black and green exterior.
Exterior view of the Twechar Outdoor Pursuits Centre building with a green sign.
A modern conference room with a U-shaped wooden table surrounded by black chairs, a wall-mounted TV, large windows facing an outdoor patio and greenery, and a fire extinguisher in the corner.
A spacious conference room with two large wooden tables, black chairs, a wall-mounted television, and large windows with blinds showing an outdoor view.
Indoor bike training room with three bikes mounted on stationary stands, including a pink mountain bike, a gray bike, and an orange bike, with windows covered by gray blinds.
Group of five people with bicycles posing outdoors on a sunny day, wearing helmets, some with sunglasses, standing on a paved path with grassy area and trees in the background.
Group of people paddleboarding on a calm river surrounded by trees with fall foliage.