Sometimes the most meaningful support doesn’t happen in a meeting room, but outdoors - walking side by side, with space to breathe, talk, and simply be. Thanks to fundraising by ABPCO, matched by Meeting Needs, Mind Over Mountains is delivering outdoor mental wellbeing support that creates space for connection, care and change.
When the meetings and events community steps outside - real support begins
Sometimes, the most meaningful support doesn’t happen in a conference room or at a networking event, but outdoors - walking side by side, with space to breathe, talk, and simply be.
Thanks to the incredible fundraising efforts of the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers( ABPCO), and the generous match funding from Meeting Needs, Mind Over Mountains has received £3,970 to help people experiencing challenges find support in nature.
We are hugely grateful to Heather Lishman for choosing Mind Over Mountains as the charity to raise funds for. That decision is now turning into real moments of care, connection and change for people who need it most.
What this support makes possible
At Mind Over Mountains, we offer guided wellbeing walks and walking retreats, supported by qualified counsellors, wellbeing coaches and experienced walk leaders. There are no waiting rooms, no clinical settings, and no pressure to talk - just time outdoors, gentle structure, and compassionate support.
With £3,970, this funding will help deliver over 420 hours of outdoor mental wellbeing support.
At Mind Over Mountains, £9.42 funds one hour of therapeutic outdoor support - meaning this single donation will reach many people who might otherwise struggle to access help.
Our walks and retreats are open to anyone aged 18 and over. While this funding has come from the meetings and events industry, the impact reaches people from all walks of life; including those facing burnout, anxiety, grief, overwhelm, or simply feeling stuck.
“I arrived feeling heavy – and left feeling lighter”
One participant described arriving on a walk feeling anxious and unsure, unsure whether they even belonged there.
“I was nervous at first. I didn’t know anyone and didn’t know what to expect. But walking side by side made it easier. I didn’t feel put on the spot - I could just be myself.”
By the end of the day, they described feeling calmer, more grounded, and surprised by how safe the space felt.
“Being outdoors, with professionals there if you need them, but without pressure, was incredibly powerful. I felt listened to and supported in a way I hadn’t experienced before.”
“Nature made it easier to open up”
For many people, talking indoors - face to face, across a table or through a screen - can feel overwhelming. Nature changes that dynamic.
“Walking in nature made everything feel less intense. Conversations flowed more naturally, and I found myself opening up without overthinking it.”
Another participant reflected on the importance of being with others who understood:
“Everyone there had their own struggles, but there was no judgement. Just kindness and understanding. I didn’t feel alone anymore.”
The power of belonging
A strong sense of belonging runs through much of the feedback we hear.
“I felt a real sense of connection - not just to nature, but to the group. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I belonged somewhere.”
For people who have been carrying things quietly for a long time, that sense of shared experience can be transformative.
“It reminded me that I’m not broken. I’m human - and being outdoors with others helped me remember that.”
Why this matters to the meetings and events industry
The meetings and events world is fast-paced, high-pressure, and built on people giving a lot of themselves. Many people working in the industry are quietly managing stress, burnout or emotional fatigue alongside busy professional lives.
By supporting Mind Over Mountains, the meetings and events community is helping to fund preventative, accessible mental wellbeing support - support that meets people where they are, rather than waiting until they reach crisis.
And you don’t need to be “at breaking point” to join us. Our walks and retreats are about mental fitness, not just mental illness. They’re for anyone who wants space, perspective, and connection.
“I left with hope”
Perhaps the most powerful thing we hear is how people feel after a walk or retreat.
“I left feeling hopeful. I had tools I could take away, and the confidence to keep going.”
“It gave me space to reflect, to breathe, and to see things more clearly.”
Those moments are exactly what this funding from ABPCO and Meeting Needs is making possible.
Join us outside
If you work in the meetings and events industry and are curious about Mind Over Mountains, you’d be very welcome to join us on a walk or retreat. Come as you are. Walk at your own pace. Talk as much or as little as you like.
Our CEO Ian Boyd stated,
“This support shows what’s possible when an industry comes together with compassion at its heart.
“It’s widely recognised that event professionals have one of the most stressful jobs, ranking alongside the emergency services, involving long, irregular hours, constant deadlines, and problem-solving challenges.
It’s also one of the most exhilarating and rewarding careers and the mental wellness support provided by Mind Over Mountains can be a significant factor in helping event professionals deal with the pressure.
Both ABPCO and Meeting Needs are thrilled to raise funds for Mind Over Mountains and to see how those funds are being used to help people through walking in nature”, Caroline Windsor, Trustee of Meeting Needs.
