CREATIVE young people who have put down roots in the Dales are being urged to help inspire others to make a local lifestyle work for them.

The Great Place: Lakes and Dales programme is looking for what it calls ‘creative champions’ to add to its current list, which includes a part time shepherdess and full dancer, an artist, the owner of a vegetarian cafe, and a couple of outdoors guiders.

Their real life stories will help highlight the diverse lifestyles of people who call the Dales home, with the aim to showcase how the arts and culture can help to buck the trend of fewer 16-34-year-olds living and working in the area.

Lindsey Hebden, who manages the programme, said: “There are loads of examples of young creatives who are showing entrepreneurial spirit to ensure they can stay or return to the Lakes and Dales. We are liaising with a number of these inspirational people and telling their stories to inspire others, but we’d like to hear from more.”

The creative champions enjoy public releations and networking opportunities through their willingness to feature on the programme’s website, in its newsletter and promotional activities.

Lindsey said: “It’s win, win. Our creative champions feel strongly about living and working in the Lakes and Dales and are committed to encouraging more young people to do the same.

“Creative champions are also brought to the attention of the area’s most prestigious arts organisations as we are managed by a creative board which includes Chrysalis Arts and Grassington Festival.”

The creative champions come from a number of industries, from hospitality to dance and digital communications to antiques. They include café owner Michael Jennings, of Skipton’s Steep and Filter, Bentham artist Rachel Thornton, Settle outdoors guide Steph Dwyer, and part time shepherdess and full-time dancer, Zanna Dennis, from near Bentham.

Among the UK’s foremost cavers, Steph Dwyer and her partner, Mike Bottomley, took over Settle-based Yorkshire Dales Guides, which allows them to combine their passion for underground exploration and the outdoors with a viable business.

Steph and Mike are both members of the Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation and are both experienced cave explorers.

“We love the Dales and Lakes and wanted to base ourselves here for the outdoors activities and caving in particular.,” said Steph. I have a masters in psychology, but when I started looking for jobs it quickly became clear that I would be facing a big commute only to sit in an office. We infuse psychology through our practice and wholeheartedly promote getting outdoors as a brilliant way to boost mental and physical wellbeing, self-esteem and resilience.

“We grabbed the opportunity to run our own business with both hands and make a living while staying in the Dales. It is the perfect way to marry our love for adventure with promoting mental well-being.”

Michael Jennings never considered living in the rural North until he met his wife, Alex, who is from Skipton.

The couple, who met at university in Liverpool, decided to make the town their home, drawn by Alex’s roots but also a desire to live in a lovely area but one which is also accessible to urban attractions. Skipton has five cities within an hour to an hour and a half’s drive away.

They also dreamed of making an environmental and ethical difference and vegan café, Steep and Filter, is the result.

“I always wanted to have a vegetarian café, but decided it was a wiser choice to do vegan, given that I am vegan,” said Michael. We also have an eco shop, selling cruelty free, paper packaged and non plastic while keeping it cheap, so it’s something people can afford. We are still expanding the eco shop side of the business. At Steep and Filter we could make more money, but it wouldn’t bring anything to the town and we want to strive to have something of quality and bring fresh ideas to Skipton which will attract more people in.”

Michael is a keen supporter of GPLD, believing strongly that more needs to be done to improve the cultural offering of the area in order to retain and attract younger generations.

He said: “The population is quite old and people are leaving. We should put on good events and we need to support young people with a good idea. If it hadn’t been for my wife and the countryside, there wouldn’t have been much to make me want to live here, but now I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

Potential creative champions can contact the programme on GreatPlace@Cravendc.gov.uk.