E-Newsletter
Read our July 2010 e-newsletter (PDF)
October 2009 - Future Builders Report on Widehorizons
Below is an extract from the Futurebuilders website regarding its investment into the Trust:
Widehorizons believes in the transformational power of the natural environment on health and wellbeing and the advancement of outdoor education, but to address the declining infrastructure and get more children visiting the centres Widehorizons had to investigate funding options, which is when it came across the Futurebuilders Fund. Mike Penny, CEO, asserts how advantageous this was:
“The Social Investment Business raised our ambitions because at the time my objectives we modest – only to build an office. We had a business plan full with our aspirations for the next five years and it was The Social Investment Business who said they could help us with costing some of our services up so that we could make a major step change in our provision! That valuable investment, push and guidance has led us to where we are today”.
Following successful completion of this work, Widehorizons went on to receive a £1,072,000 Futurebuilders full investment. This investment comprised a £1,500,000 loan to refurbish Margaret McMillan House, Wrotham, Kent and the Townsend Centre, Swanage, Dorset; a £114,500 capital grant for business development to refurbish and set up the central office based at the Environmental Curriculum Centre in Eltham; and a £106,500 revenue grant for recruitment and staffing costs over the first 12 months.
Mike explains that the “money from the Futurebuilders Fund was the first major investment for us for thirty years, it was over £1,000,000! It enabled us to turn a dilapidated old wing into a beautiful building with modern facilities that sleeps 60. It has also created two more classrooms – We are extremely happy with McMillan house, it’s fabulous!
Future endeavours at Widehorizons
Mike passionately explained that although Widehorizons has come a long way in increasing its capacity and has evidently expanded its provision, the drive never stops for improving its services. Future plans in the pipeline include fully catering for disabled children whereby installing tailored equipment and bedrooms. Mike details:
“We are looking into catering for disabled children because they rarely get the same experiences as an able bodied child. We are launching a campaign to raise money to adapt and develop our facilities to cater for disabled children so that they can take part just as any other child can in outdoor adventure. We would ideally like to have respite care for children in the weekends also. We are launching an appeal that’s called ‘Aiming even higher for disabled children’, like the Government’s ‘Aiming high’ which, we hope, will be a successful fundraising campaign for the next two years and provide the funds for our vision”.
Included in this vision are escapes for families who have a disabled child. Families like these from disadvantaged areas rarely get a holiday and this initiative would provide adventure skills for all the family and enable children of varying abilities to play side by side.
Widehorizons has a unique influence locally on the role of outdoor education. Many Widehorzon attendees haven’t been to the country or the seaside before so for some even open spaces and outdoor games are novelties. Even the local residents notice the change in visiting youngsters – Wrotham Taxi driver Sue proclaimed that many apprehensive teens arrive at Widhorizons only to return with big infectious smiles on their faces – “what a difference fresh air can make!”
July 2009 - Townsend Celebrates its 80th Anniversary
“GOR blimey! Ain’t it wunnerful!”
That, allegedly, was the reaction from one schoolboy back in July 1929, as he became one of the first to visit Swanage Boys’ Camp, what is now the Townsend Centre in Swanage.
The boy, having climbed up the hill to the camp in Cobblers Lane, had never seen the sea before.
That reaction is still a common one from children when they arrive today.
The camp was set up by Bournemouth Rotary Club and, on its inception, one member said: “It is our hope that, year by year, close upon 1,000 boys will receive inspiration from the surroundings hereabouts, and that their lives will reflect the memories of their stay; the possibilities for good will result.”
The camp was set up to give children from the cities a taste of the seaside and its continuing relationship with Greenwich Council means that today that is still exactly why the centre exists.
The camp ran more or less unchanged for almost 40 years, when the Greater London Council took over the lease.
The biggest change came in 1976, when girls were admitted for the first time.
Greenwich Council took over the lease in 1990 and under its management, the centre was extensively refurbished in 1993, with a new dormitory, dining room, en suite facilities and an additional classroom all constructed. As a result, the camp’s capacity rose from 48 to 76.
Widehorizons was set up after Greenwich Council looked at ways to better run outdoor centres and became operational in 2007.
Today, improvements to buildings are continuing, with a programme running into 2010 for a new dormitory and extended cottage, expanding disabled facilities and meaning more children can add to the 3,000-plus visitors that the centre receives each year.
With thanks to Bournemouth Echo for the above article
July 2009 - Widehorizons Abseil Day
Students, teachers and organisations from Greenwich and Lewisham raised nearly £15,000 for The Widehorizons Outdoor Education Trust.
Despite forecasts to the contrary the sun shone all weekend for the 170 adults and young people who climbed six storeys to the top of Eltham Green School and abseiled 25 metres down the side of the building. “You don’t realise how high it is until you get to the top and see right across London. Leaning backwards over the edge is the scariest part!” one abseiler declared when he reached the bottom.
Local special schools and groups supporting disabled children also took part in the abseil to raise money for the Widehorizons Appeal – ‘Aiming Even Higher for Disabled Children’ – which aims to raise £1.8 million to make all the Widehorizons facilities and teaching programmes fully inclusive.
The event was made possible with the kind support of Charles Cooper and Suresh Paul, two people who as youngsters visited Ty’n y Berth Mountain Centre, the Widehorizons Adventure Centre in Mid Wales. Charles is now director of Eyepro, an industrial rope access company and Suresh directs Equal Adventure, a charity supporting disabled people taking part in adventure activity.
April 2009 - Ty'n y Berth "Awards for All"
Ty'n y Berth Mountain Centres has made a successful £10,000 bid to the Big Lottery - Awards for All for canoeing and related equipment.
Awards for All is part of the Big Lottery and offers grants of between £300 and £10,000 for projects that improve communities, and the lives of people within them. It is for voluntary and community groups, schools and health organisations, parish and town councils.
March 2008 - Successful Futurebuilders - England Bid
The Trust has made a successful bid to
Futurebuilders - England for a multi-million pound loan and grant to refurbish Margaret McMillan House and the Townsend Centre as well as establishing a central office at the Environment Curriculum Centre in Eltham, London.
Futurebuilders - England is the largest social investor in the UK. Its aim is to substantially improve the financial and strategic capability of the thrid sector so that it can play an even greater role in improving the lives of the people and communities it serves.