A mum who set up an online walking resource for families has taken the next step in her journey.
Laura Earl, 33, who lives near Carlisle, set up the Hiking Household on social media platform Instagram as the country emerged from the first lockdown in 2020.
It has now appointed two directors and secured community interest company status.
Laura, 33, said: “My aim was simply to share our favourite family walks with other parents in the local area.
“As a mum of four children aged five and under, I understood how desperate families were to get outside and active, and I wanted to help by providing some fresh ideas for parents and carers.
“The reaction was incredibly positive, and demonstrated a huge demand for the kind of content I was offering.
“Since then I have launched a website detailing hundreds of family friendly walks in Cumbria, as well as running regular Tikes Hikes pop-up walking groups for parents with babies and toddlers.
“Registering as a CIC is the first step in our plan for scaling up what The Hiking Household can offer children and families in Cumbria.
“We’re on a mission to help families across Cumbria to live their most healthy and happy lives – one walk at a time!
“We want to reach families who might, for many reasons, be less active, and help them to reap the huge health and wellbeing benefits of getting outside and moving.”
A community interest company is a special type of limited company that exists to benefit the community, rather than private shareholders.
Laura has welcomed onboard two new directors, and a media and marketing co-ordinator to help accelerate The Hiking Household’s growth.
She added: “Our small but supportive team are all passionate about The Hiking Household vision.
“We are all parents to young children and that brings a real level of understanding to all of our decision-making.
The organisation’s new status also unlocks access to a range of funding opportunities.
The next step for The Hiking Household is to review funding options that will allow Laura’s ambitious plans to come to fruition, she said.
Laura added: “We have some really exciting plans for improving and expanding The Hiking Household offering, and now our key focus is to secure the funding we need to bring these to life.”
