Carymoor Environmental Centre celebrates alternative provision success

Rupert Farthing (right) and visitors at Carymoor Environmental Centre

Over the last 6 months, Carymoor Environmental Centre has been running an alternative provision (AP) Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) programme for students from King Arthur’s School.

Students spend 1 day a week away from school, working in small groups towards their DofE award with support from youth mentors. Along the way, they build life skills, develop teamwork and gain confidence in a practical outdoor setting.

During the programme, students volunteer on the Carymoor site and take part in activities such as coppicing, scything and trench digging, helping the centre improve wildlife habitats. They also complete orienteering for their physical section, supporting expedition navigation skills.

For the skills section, students try a range of hands-on activities, from making bird boxes to willow weaving. They finish with an expedition, building their skills over 6 months before taking part in a 2-day, 1-night expedition in the local area.

Janet Montgomery from the High Sheriff’s Trust and Nickie Gething, Deputy Lieutenant (DL), joined the celebration of the group’s achievements. They heard from Rupert Farthing, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chrissie, the youth mentor and DofE leader, the participants and Lara, the school teaching assistant who supported them throughout.

The event was a true celebration of the students’ commitment, resilience and friendships developed throughout the programme. All participants achieved their Bronze Award, giving them a soft-skills qualification to sit alongside their academic achievements on CVs for job and college interviews.

Most importantly, students felt valued and listened to as individuals, growing in confidence throughout the course.