Midlands kids on dole sent on I'm A Celebrity style survival courses

Jul 12 2010 by Paul Cole, Sunday Mercury

Bushcraft

“The course is all about self-development and gaining confidence.

“Whether they are trying to light a fire in the snow, or meeting new people for the first time, the course nurtures what young people already have inside themselves. What they have learned will benefit them for the rest of their lives in all sorts of situations.”

Organisers say the workshop helped the teenagers to identify the skills they had gained during the programme and how they could turn these into employable skills for prospective employers to increase their chances of securing jobs.

“The combination of learning ancient and modern skills works very well together to give young people a rich experience,” explained bushcraft expert Alex Hampson from Wild Earth, who developed the programme and has been working on similar projects for many years.

“Often young people find it really difficult to find jobs. Working in a different environment changes the way they think about things, and gives them an alternative perspective. The effect this has on their confidence can be quite amazing.”

The course was run jointly by E4C and Wild Earth, in partnership with Leamington, Nuneaton and Bedworth Connexions. Funding for the course was provided from Coventry Solihull & Warwickshire Partnership, and the Youth Opportunity Fund.

Brian Coffey, one of the mentors on the course, has run three other bushcraft courses over the past three years.

“I have learned so much on these courses,” he said. “They have increased my chances of getting a job. It’s made me realise that I really like working with young people, and I’m going to look for a job that will allow me to continue.”