As we move from March to April the centres team complete the last of our Adventures Away from Home funded activities. Over the last 3 months the team have hosted 250 residentials experiences and over 100 activity days for local Woodcraft Folk groups and partner organisations. For the first time Woodcraft Folk partnered with Good Deed Leeds, SELFA, Womenzoe, ESOL Todmorden College and others to give children and young people the opportunity to benefit from a youth work residential experience.
The groups have engaged in a broad range of activities, everything from weaseling to print making, caving to ping pong, abseiling to charcoal making and with lots of bushcraft activities in between. Comments from participants have clearly demonstrated the benefits of residentials, for example:
“I find it easier to work with other people now. And I learnt how to play sardines in the woods – that was really fun”
“I really liked all the activities and want to come back again!”
I enjoyed “being in nature and getting away from London, having free time in nature and having control over my own time to play games and chill. It was good to not be on my phone and disconnect a bit too.”
“I learned that I can stay calm and handle difficult situations better than I thought”
“I enjoyed going somewhere new”
“I found out that I’m more capable than I give myself credit for. I think girls underestimate themselves a lot”
The funding supported 351 young people, aged 10-20 years, of whom 49% were from racialised communities, 17% had a disability, 8% were refugees or asylum seekers and 30% had experience of the care system.
Woodcraft Folk centres support a broad range of youth and school groups to engage in nature, outdoor adventures and community living. To find out more visit Centres and Campsites – Woodcraft Folk