The Somerset Project (360G-SomersetCF-A539660)
Funding Organization
£32,952
Recipient Organization
Outdoor and adventure-led activities for adults with learning disabilities and autism
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Grant Details
| Amount Applied For | 32952 |
| Amount Awarded | 32952 |
| Award Date | 2020-11-13T00:00:00+00:00 |
| Beneficiary Location: Country Code | GB |
| Beneficiary Location: Geographic Code | E01020115 |
| Beneficiary Location: Geographic Code Type | LSOA |
| Beneficiary Location: Name | North Devon 001D |
| Grant Programme: Code | 2019/20 Discovery Q3 (Nov) |
| Grant Programme: Title | Grants to Groups |
| Last Modified | 2020-12-07T00:00:00+00:00 |
| Planned Dates: Duration (months) | 11 |
| Planned Dates: End Date | 2021-02-28T00:00:00+00:00 |
| Planned Dates: Start Date | 2020-03-01T00:00:00+00:00 |
| Primary age group | Young Adults (19 – 25) |
| Primary beneficiary | People with learning difficulties |
| Primary ethnicity | All Ethnicities |
| Primary issue | Disability and Access issues |
| Recipient Org: Charity Number | 1173646 |
| Recipient Org: Description | Adventure Therapy exists to improve the emotional (and sometimes physical) wellbeing of children and adults with unique health conditions, impairments or limitations through free outdoor and adventure-led activities. Health conditions may include (but are not limited to) mental health conditions, learning disability and autism, physical disability, life-limiting illnesses or life-changing conditions. We help to change lives through adventure, whether that is to improve a sense of overall emotional wellbeing, as part of a rehabilitation and recovery process or through creating treasured memories for the families we support. We have worked with individuals who are facing immense emotional struggles through crisis at home, suicidal thoughts and with a breakdown in family relationships. We work with a range of Approved Activity Providers and our service is currently available across Devon and Cornwall. We now wish to extend our activities to Somerset (through the Somerset Project) so that we can support people from across the South West peninsula. By working with Approved Activity Providers, who must satisfy our safeguarding and risk assessment, by providing a copy of their insurance schedule, child and vulnerable adult safeguarding policy, DBS Certificate (where applicable), qualifications and details of their experience by completing our Approved Activity Provider Registration Form; in addition to sharing our vision and values. By working with Approved Providers we are able to be flexible and adaptable in our approach, both in the areas we work geographically and in the activities we can provide. This means we can develop bespoke activities if required and which are beneficial to the wellbeing of the participant. We accept personal referrals (i.e. from the individual, parent/guardian) which often come via our website or social media but predominantly we receive professional referrals from other charities (we have recently supported the disability charity CEDA, Young Devon (which works with people with learning disability and autism), Headway Devon (which supports people with acquired brain injury) and the Stroke Association. We also receive referrals from community organisations such as One Ilfracombe and Taw and Torridge Voluntary Service, from schools/colleges and as part of social prescribing, GP Practices, the Police and Social Services. We are in the process of working with Mencap, which supports activities in schools and colleges for students with learning disabilities. We will provide activities for individuals with learning disabilities and they will fund children who do not have a health condition, so they can interact as part of a group. This will help with inclusion, friendships and with social skills and confidence. We are also in the process of setting up a joint initiative with The National Trust in Devon to provide hiking and/or Nordic Walking and bushcraft as part of a group and a similar scheme could work well in Somerset for adults with learning disability and autism. We differ from the majority of organisations providing outdoor activities to improve wellbeing because we do not charge the individual or group – and nor do we charge the referring organisation. Based on experience, other providers are either businesses/companies who charge for their services or charities which, whilst doing good work, also charge: some provide free activities for groups but it is not possible to be self-referred/by a parent/guardian and the referring organisation is then charged or they charge for private 1:1 sessions. Others provide residential activity breaks, but at a cost to the individual or referring organisation. We have been notified by other charities and community organisations in Devon and Cornwall that Adventure Therapy is unique in providing free activities and their organisation would no longer be able to justify paying another provider, which charges, meaning the person or group does not get to benefit from outdoor activities and an improvement in their wellbeing - until they discovered Adventure Therapy. As a charity, we believe that activities should be provided free of charge, through the kindness and generosity of the support from the communities we serve. We are grateful that to date, we have been able to realise our mission. We also differ because of the range of activities we are able to provide. These include surfing, coasteering, kayaking, paddle boarding and scuba diving in or on water and climbing, caving, hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, archery and bushcraft on land. In addition, we can provide indoor climbing or archery for when the weather is particularly inclement, treetop adventures at Go Ape! and access to England's longest zipwire in Cornwall. Depending on the benefit to the individual, we work 1:1 or 1:2 and in group sessions which are really beneficial to social inclusion and forming friendships. For example, we recently took a group referred by the Stroke Association for an archery session and the interaction between instructor and participants was excellent, with each person wishing to continue with activities as a group following the session. On a 1: 1 basis and prior to a recent surf session with Adventure Therapy, the young lady was angry, frustrated and not sure about attending, but her mother said the difference in her following the session was transformational. However, we know from experience and research following one-off taster sessions that to really make a difference to an individual and transform lives through adventure, a programme of activities provides the most benefit. We have found in Devon and Cornwall that following an activity, each participant wants to do more and in particular, a course of 6 weeks or a lesson each month, for 6 months would be of far greater benefit that an initial taster session. Often an individual will also continue with lessons privately following our initial introduction to activities which enables a new interest, ability and the opportunity to continue friendship but predominantly the wish is that they can continue with sessions through Adventure Therapy. This is in part because of the cost but also because of the stability, reassurance and positivity that Adventure Therapy provides as a charity "brand". |
| Recipient Org: Web Address | http://www.adventuretherapy.org.uk |