Our Believe and Achieve community came together from all over the country for an adrenaline fuelled day on 9th July in Derbyshire.
Our Believe and Achieve Coordinator, Mikala Gately, who recently joined the team tells us about her first experience of a B&A day.
Firsts
“It was a weekend of firsts – the first event since we opened up our age range to include people from age 11, the first Active Day for many of the young people, and my first ever B&A day too!
“We whizzed down the giant zip wires, smashed our fears and helped each other reach new heights on the skyline accessible high ropes course, and raced around on the adapted buggies course. We then headed to the bushcraft zone to make fires, cook smores and kindle new friendships, before heading off for team games with a giant inflatable ball the size of a small car!
Safe space
“The young people got the chance to hear from one of our amazing peer mentors, Fiona, who bravely shared her meningitis experience with the group. It was beautiful to watch how this created a safe space for others to do the same with each other.
“Perhaps better than anything else was the laughter ringing round the Dales – it demonstrated the importance of these events and the power of our amazing community of young people. Some feedback from one of our young people sums it up:
“This place has been amazing and has made me realise I am not on my own in this world. I am supported and loved.”
Bake Off
We look forward to our next fully booked event with our 17-25 year olds at Cheshire Cookery School on 2nd September, where we will be coached by professional chefs to cook an Italian three course meal and then go head-to-head, Bake Off style, to create the Victoria sponge of dreams!”
Many thanks to the following for their support of the B&A programme, which makes events like this possible – the Pixel Trust, the National Lottery Community Fund, the Quilter Foundation and the Pantheon Charitable Trust.
If you want to find out more about the programme please contact Mikala on 07587 554854
