A COMMUNITY group which encourages women to keep active and make friendships has been nominated for a Proud of Barnsley award.

When Lyndsay Marie Hill made a Facebook post to organise a walking group last January she never expected such an overwhelming response.

Barnsley Ladies’ Outdoor Group (BLOG) was created in response to a lack of ladies’ only groups in the borough - and it has grown in strength and in numbers since its creation.

Lyndsay, 35, who works as a midwife has always had a passion for helping others, which is reflected in the group’s ethos.

BLOG aims to provide free, accessible socials for local ladies, no matter their age, income or activity level.

Originally starting as a walking group, BLOG has since expanded to include cinema trips, meals and more.

Lyndsay said: “The group is there to encourage people to get active and make new friendships.

“It’s been amazing to be nominated for a Proud of Barnsley award, we never would’ve imagined the way that we have grown.

“We get feedback from our members and everybody chips in.

“We do walks that are inclusive for all abilities as well as socials.

“We’ve started a new kind of walk which has been very popular.

“I take my camper van out to an open space and we pull out deck chairs and have hot drinks.

“When I started the group I asked what kind of barriers people faced.

“A lot of people said that when they went on a walk they couldn’t afford a coffee at six or seven pounds.

“On these walks, people have the option to give 50p to contribute towards hot drinks and biscuits.

“I wanted to create something that people could access regardless of finances.

“I’ve always been outdoor-oriented and I enjoy helping people get active.”