Support the FSC

Kids Fund

We believe that the only way you can learn about and appreciate the environment is by getting outside, experiencing it…and having some fun. The FSC Kids Fund provides financial support for groups of disadvantaged young people who would like to visit one of our centres for an FSC experience.

FSC Kids Fund courses are made possible by the generous donations from our staff and members. £5 of every £15 annual FSC membership fee is donated directly to Kids fund.

Below is a summary of some of the groups that have enjoyed an FSC Kids Fund course. By becoming an FSC member or making a donation to Kids Fund you can help even more children have life changing experiences like the young people on the courses below.

Why not find out more about becoming a member?

Carrowshee Park and Sylvan Hill Community Association

When members of Carrowshee Park and Sylvan Hill Community Association visited FSC Derrygonnelly for a three day visit, for many of the group it represented their first stay away from home; a world away but yet so near!

The group arrived at the centre and got straight into an evening of teambuilding activities and a nightline to help the group get to know each other better.  A day of orienteering, nature discovery and water sports followed to help put their newly acquired team skills to the test. On the final day the group  visited Lough Navar Forest Park. A long walk and river study helped the group learn more about nature and nicely rounded off an exciting and inspiring three days.

The smiles and laughter were really good to see, a real escape for these boys and girls. The whole trip brought out a real sense of independence and belonging, team building scenarios really brought out a sense of social bonding that we (the leaders) had never seen before. It was amazing to see these changes and developments over the course of a few days.

We got so much from this trip and we look forward to getting stuck in to some community projects and apply aspects of what we learnt.

Kathleen, Carrowshee Park and Sylvan Hill Community Association

ReCreation

 

ReCreation a youth group providing a 'safe haven' for kids in Bridgewater visited FSC Nettlecombe Court three days of teambuilding and environmental discovery. Activities including teambuilding challenges, pond dipping, walking and night animal trapping all created a fun filled three days and helped the group form some great friendships.

The group came back and said that the time they spend with you (FSC) was the best time they have ever had, mainly because they were treated like adults and not kids, so a big thank you from everyone at ReCreation.

Les Riddle, ReCreation Centre Manager

Scouting Ireland

Following their project in 2007, Scouting Ireland reapplied to bring another group on a Kids Fund experience. Since their first visit the group has been making good use of the environmental skillsthey learnt at FSC Derrygonnelly to help improve their community including planting trees, collecting litter and making bird boxes and bird feeders.

In August 2009 a second group of 20 young scouts from disadvantaged communities across County Fermanagh,  spent three days at FSC Derrygonnelly taking part in team building activities, nature quizzes, environmental art, rocky shore exploration, swimming, orienteering and hill walking. The inspiring visit was enjoyed by all. Oliver Beattie, group leader commented:

“20 young people have gone home with wonderful memories and experiences of the natural world. The team building and social networking has brought young people together and strengthened relationships”

And it didn’t end there:

“Looking ahead we have already had a review of our stay at Derrygonnelly. The young people were so taken by the beauty of the countryside and the centre they stayed at. We have been looking at ways of implementing what we have learned and through the strong social ties developed we are going to contribute to afterschool community projects- energy awareness, peer education about the importance of protecting our natural heritage and recycling on a local scale and in the home”

Glengad Youth Club

In July 2009 a group of 12 boys and girls, aged 15-17, from Glengad youth group visited FSC Derrygonnelly for a three day visit. The group is from a remote rural area in Northern Ireland affected by high unemployment, poverty and severe economic and social neglect.

Lack of environmental awareness in the area has led to environmental decay including the dumping of waste, old cars and household goods.  Glengad youth group visited FSC Derrygonnelly for a valuable opportunity to learn the conservation skills necessary for them to become ambassadors for their area and to transfer these skills to younger members of the group.

During the three day visit the group undertook the John Muir Award, an award that allows young people to discover and explore wild places whilst learning how to conserve them and share experiences. Conservation tasks mixed with rocky shore exploration, orienteering, water sports and a nightwalk  led to an exciting three day visit and helped inspire the group, who now plan to build a vegetable garden and take part in flora and fauna identification and nature walks back in their community.

Springfield, City of Portsmouth Boys and Milton Cross Schools

On the 29th June 2009 three urban Portsmouth Secondary Schools (Springfield School Technology College, City of Portsmouth Boy's School and Milton Cross School) came together to visit FSC Orielton, on a kids fund course full of eco-adventure.

Activities included long walks across in the only coastal National Park in the UK, bird box building, team building games and learning how to build a shelter in the woods (as well as seeing how waterproof our shelters really were!). It gave city pupils a chance to experience the quiet of the countryside and develop confidence and independence in new environments, whilst learning about ecology and the environment.

“The trip was fun from beginning to end, and we learned a lot about protecting endangered species of plants and animals, and realised that the countryside is not the boring place we all thought it was but a vibrant, exciting natural playground where there is loads to do. It was a really positive and enjoyable experience for all pupils involved and showed us how little gestures, like turning a light off before you leave a room, can make a big difference.”
John Lomas, Springfield School

Ullswater Community College

10 young people from Ullswater Community College had been working together to improve an area of the college by designing and making an eco garden. However the impacts of rural deprivation, both financially and socially, meant that the children were unable to financially support a residential trip where they could learn more about conservation. That’s where FSC kids Fund came in!

FSC Kids fund supported the students to visit FSC Castle Head in February 2008 and despite the bracing weather they took part in a week long residential that included a conservation project and the whole group completing the John Muir Award.

“It was fantastic watching the children working together. This brilliant week was made possible by FSC Kids Fund. A huge big thank you for giving 10 students and 2 staff an incredible week with amazing memories for everyone for the rest of their lives.”
Mandy Lowes, Ullswater Community College

Fishwick Rangers Youth Development Scheme

Fishwick Rangers Youth Development Scheme works with youngsters from Fishwick. Anti social behaviour, drugs and crime are prevalent on the estate they live in resulting in many of the youngsters suffering from social exclusion and a lack of opportunity. The group wanted to use the three day residential trip to FSC Castle Head to aid community cohesion amongst the youngsters and also to help them to develop self esteem, decision making and communication skills.

“Many of the challenges at the residential showed how working together and learning from each other played a vital role not only to overcome fears but to understand each other. Now that the group have spent time together enjoying and learning from each other this will be an experience they will take back to their communities and build a better understanding of each others differences. Breaking down barriers and misunderstandings are key factors to community cohesion the residential provided the ideal opportunity for the young people to start to work together and live together.”   
Zul Hussain, Project Co-ordinator

DY2K

When members of the DY2K Youth Group packed their bags in Plymouth for their trip to Slapton Ley Field Centre they had no idea just how much of a challenge was ahead of them and more importantly how much fun they were going to have. A three day programme was put together to give this group from the city opportunities that they would not get in their home setting and help them with their own personal development. The young people thrived on the mix of problem solving, conservation and environmental activities.

During the three days relationships were strengthened between the young people and also with the youth development staff enabling the young people to share and ask for help and advice on major issues which they had been unable to talk about before. Staff at DY2K have told us that this communication has continued and will enable them to help these young people face the challenges and problems which can be a major factor in their lives.

‘Lessons learnt in conservation were also shared on return to Granby Island Community Centre when a member of the group advised staff that cuttings from shrubs and other plant materials should be composted!’
Caz Horsford, Youth Development Worker

Scouting Ireland

In June 2007 22 young beaver scouts from Scouting Ireland, a group containing young people from disadvantaged communities across County Fermanagh visited FSC Derrygonnelly for a  three day visit . Many of the children had never left the community for a holiday before. They now intend to use their experiences and what they learnt on the course to set up and manage environmental projects in their own communities.

During the three days they took part in the following activities:

• Team building games
• Orienteering
• Nightline
• Nature quiz
• Rocky shore investigation
• Coastal walk and bushcraft activities
• Canoeing
• Climbing
• Archery

“Without doubt this was one of the best experiences I have had as a scout leader! The children had a fantastic three days– socializing, team activities, and learning about the environment. Without the FSC these children would probably not have had such a joyous experience. One where they not only learnt about nature but about themselves.”
Oliver Beatty, Scout Leader

Devenish Partnership Group

The Devenish Partnership Group brings together four community associations based in socially disadvantaged areas of Enniskillen where there are divisions of class, religion, culture and territory. Their three day visit to FSC Derrygonnelly was an ideal opportunity to engage their young people in activities in a spirit of cooperation rather than competition.

Every aspect of the three day stay was exciting for the Devenish Partnership group. Some of the comments from the young people illustrate what a huge impact the course had had on them:

“I never knew the outdoors could be so much fun”

“I didn't realise they had so many trees in the country”

“It was so good...I learnt so much about the environment and made loads of new friends”

Ysgol Tir Morfa

As part of the FSC Kids Fund programme of courses a group of 9 and 10 year old children with moderate learning difficulties from Ysgol Tir Morfa, a special school from Rhyl, took part in a three day eco adventure programme at FSC Rhyd-y-creuau.

During their stay the group were able to take part in a nightline, a Mountain Walk, gorge scrambling, abseiling and climbing  and even ‘hot chocolate’ orienteering!

This was an invaluable experience for all the young people involved. Socialising, sharing time and stories, being away from roads and pavements, exploring and respecting new places and facing tough challenges was new to almost everyone in the group.

By becoming an FSC member or making a donation to Kids Fund you can help even more children have the life changing experiences like the young people on this year’s courses.