Youth Work
We have regenerated the Boiling Wells site over the past 5 years transforming this smallholding into a beautiful green oasis with an active youth and community-engagement project by involving local young people in the construction of a timber frame barn, pathways and an amphitheatre and the development of gardens, an orchard and wildlife areas. We run a programme of activities for young people affected by social and economic disadvantage, behavioural and mental health problems and those disengaged from school.
Through our provision of accredited practical training and focussed activities we have supported young people to return to school or meaningful employment. We have provided positive alternatives to crime and anti-social behaviour and have supported young people in making positive connections with the wider community.
We aim to provide positive and rewarding experiences for young people from areas who do not have access to green spaces or the countryside and have limited or no previous exposure to any of the activities that we offer such as bush crafts, outdoor cooking, woodcrafts, team building activities, conservation and site maintenance.
| ‘The Boiling Wells camping trip provided a really unique opportunity for young people from St Paul’s to explore an oasis of countryside less than a mile from their homes. They learnt new skills and got to know each other and staff on a completely different level, freer from the pressures of school or the local community they live in. All the feedback they gave was good – they loved the tepees, the food, and learning how to make fire, feed the animals etc. I could tell it had an effect on them because they asked when they could come back next!’ (Feedback from a youth leader from the Ashley Youth Project) |
We also run Out-of-school and holiday activities for local young people who when attending can enjoy a range of adventurous outdoor activities. Over the past year we have focussed especially on young people facing difficulties and challenges during the transition from primary school to secondary school, working closely with teachers, key workers and the local Extended Schools Service.
At Boiling Wells, a carpentry project runs during term time on Tuesdays for young people aged 14 to 18 who are disengaged or excluded from school. The program generates a highly supportive environment where students gain experience with a range of tools and practical skills.Young people build their confidence through achieving physical results, team work, improved communication, problem solving, planning and design.
Every Thursday from 3:30pm to 6pm we run an open-access youth club for young people aged from 11 to 18 years old at our Boiling wells site. Activities that we do on a regular basis include cooking, often with ingredients harvested from our own site, making jam, bushcrafts, woodwork, group games, mosaics, camping, trips to places of interest and planning together for future activities and projects or just simple hanging out and chatting with friends! We encourage the young people to engage on their own terms whilst gaining independence, confidence, practical and social skills. Several young people have worked for and gained environmental awards over the past 3 years.The club is open to any young person and all we ask is £1 a week which is paid when you attend to help us cover our costs. Feel free to drop by at a session if you are interested in joining or otherwise you can us for more information.
If you are interested in finding out more about Boiling Wells and visiting the site, then please contact Anna Williams, Environmental Youth Development Manager at St Werburghs City Farm on Tel: 0117 942 8241 or email: boilingwells@swcityfarm.co.uk
Work to Learn
