1 in 5 British children have never paddled in the sea! Coastal camp is the 2nd camp in our 3 year programme for vulnerable young people. The activities they do are designed to give the youngsters confidence, help them build resilience, develop team working skills and improve their communication; skills that will last them a lifetime and help them face the challenges in their daily lives. Challenges such as bullying, low self esteem, chaotic families, lack of positive role models and poverty.
Swindon and Wiltshire are home to some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in the UK. Their circumstances make it all too easy for these young people to make poor choices that will affect the rest of their lives. Children growing up in such environments are severely disadvantaged in terms of educational attainment, life skills and future prospects and are particularly prone to risks such as youth offending, substance misuse and poor friendship choices.
"You have helped me boost my confidence and overcome so many fears.'' (2017 participant) Coastal Camp, the second residential camp in our 3 school year programme, builds on the skills and confidence gained at Mountain Camp. It develops resilience and team-work, teaches responsibility and improves self-confidence. Feedback shows that following Coastal Camp our young people perform better at school, have better relationships with friends and family and are more able to cope with life.
Our approach and early intervention work not only improves behaviour and aspiration, but it raises standards at school and nurtures civic responsibility; contributing directly to government objectives on community cohesion, offending and the natural environment. The 20 young people helped through this project will apply the skills the programme gives them within their school and home environments, enabling them to make constructive changes in their lives and aspire to a more optimistic future.
