In Conversation with Souls and Soles

In a world where genuine connection can often feel difficult to find, Souls & Soles is creating community in one of the simplest and most meaningful ways possible: by bringing people together outdoors.

Through hikes, runs, and wellness workshops, the charity has built inclusive spaces where people can reconnect with nature, with themselves, and most importantly, with each other.

For this Community Spotlight, we spoke to Souls and Soles about their impact beyond the trails. In creating inclusive spaces in nature, they facilitate a space for people to make friends, challenge themselves, and feel a sense of belonging. This runs alongside them, also supporting local and global initiatives.

How would you describe the kind of care or change your work brings?

We try to create spaces where people can simply show up as they are, without pressure or expectation. A lot of people come on their own or not knowing anyone and leave feeling more connected, more grounded, and often lighter than when they arrived, whether that’s through conversations, shared experiences, or just time spent in nature. 

A lot of our events also act as fundraisers, meaning that by attending a hike, people are not only investing in their own wellbeing but also contributing to something greater. This includes projects like rehabilitating water wells in Malawi or helping to reconstruct schools in Ghana, so each step taken together carries impact both locally and globally.

Who or what keeps you and your team inspired when the work feels heavy or resources are low?

What keeps us going is the people. Hearing how someone found friendship, support, or a sense of belonging through Souls & Soles reminds us why we started in the first place. We also lean on each other as a team and stay rooted in the belief that even the smallest moments of connection can have a lasting impact. 

It’s especially meaningful seeing those connections continue beyond our events, with people who met on hikes now meeting up regularly and even going on holidays together. It’s a reminder that the impact doesn’t end when the hike does; it carries into everyday life.

If you could dream big, what would the impact of your work look like in your community five years from now?

In five years, we’d love Souls & Soles to have helped reshape what community looks like for people; where wellbeing, connection, and movement are part of everyday life, not something separate or occasional. We hope to continue creating spaces where people feel they belong while making what we do accessible to even more people, both locally and globally.

You can follow Souls & Soles to keep up with the work they do. From mental health workshops and self-defence classes to large-scale group hikes across the UK, their calendar is full of community activities. We love their commitment to funding life-changing projects globally. If that is something that also aligns with you, join their ever-growing network of supporters and volunteers.