Resilience in Action (July 2011)

Demonstrating how getting away in a positive group impacts on young peoples confidence to change schools

See Stepping Stones Film

As a joint venture with HAWKS, this project provided the opportunity for a group of children to feel better through immersion in the natural environment and engaging in resilience-building activities. The aim was also to promote a smooth transition from primary to secondary education, increased confidence and enjoyment of school. 

This was a longer term programme and followed our ‘Wildly Different’ formula which enables a planned progression to take place:

Step 1 -- A Wild Day In (the city in a green space) allows the children and workers to all get to know each other and get a taste for and plan activities to come

Step 2 -- A Wild Weekend Away (in ‘deeper country’) is a chance to get away from it all, build up new skills, supportive relationships, self-esteem, confidence and resilience.

Step 3 -- A Wild Day Out (in the countryside close to the city) brings everyone back together to reflect on what they have learnt and experienced and think about how that can be applied into the future (in this case, coping with changing schools)

This example of this way of working was considered so effective that the organizations involved are working to repeat it this year.  A photofilm was made of the 3-stage project and shown to children, workers and parents in Knowle West a week before the new term began.  The film illustrates the feelings of both the children and the workers around working in this new, enjoyable and effective way and its public showing proved to be one of the most moving aspects of the project.

 

“I like this project because it’s been really adventurous, done loads of freedom activities I have made some friends here and it has been really nice meeting them. Now it makes you feel more grown up, makes me feel less angry with quite a lot of people.”
Participant, 11, Resilience in Action (July 2011)
“It has been amazing how everyone is relaxed in this environment.”
Embercombe Support Worker, Resiliance in Action (July 2011)
"The work with the group will continue, they themselves are becoming their own community, so if there is consistency whilst going through a transition then that is brilliant, especially if there is inconsistency in other parts of their life. They have had a shared experience so there will be a point of reference when they come back together.”
Support Worker, Resilience in Action (July 2011)
“We do only have 45 minutes a week with them, which isn’t very much so to have this 50 odd hours with them is great. We have been able to get to know them so much better and they have got to know us more. It will provide us with so much more that we can talk about, and remind them of great things that they have done.”
Hawkes Social Worker, Resilience in Action (July 2011)
“The first day out at Northern Slopes was a chance for them to get to know a place of nature close to home - they picked blackberries so now they know somewhere they can pick blackberries."
Forest School Leader, Resilience in Action (July 2011)