Always on
This project successfully funded on 27th May 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
SBSJ Outdoor Education Fund
Bradford, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Aim
We aim to raise £4,500 to buy essential equipment for Outdoor Education at school. This will open new possibilities for some students.
I am writing to ask for your help. St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College runs a very successful Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and Outdoor Education programme. This year, 125 students are signed up for DofE. All students in Key Stage 3 take Outdoor Education as part of their curriculum. To make these opportunities as effective as possible and to ensure that they are available equally to all students, the College needs to purchase a range of equipment. We aim to raise £4,500 for essential items.
Why are DofE and Outdoor Education important?
The Duke of Edinburgh Award aims to help young people “to explore who they are, grow in confidence and develop the skills they need to successfully navigate life”. This complements the College’s belief that education is about more than just learning information: it is the formation of young people into “happy, confident, spiritually awake lifelong learners” who will take charge of their own lives, instigate positive change, and contribute to their community.
Our students benefit from four different sections of the DofE programme:
- Volunteering – practical service to the community
- Physical – take up a physical activity, like running or swimming
- Skills – learning something new or developing an existing skill
- Expedition – undertake an adventurous, self-sufficient journey in a team
Outdoor Education at SBSJ focuses on the expedition part of DofE, with students, for example, learning how to put up a tent and cook food outdoors. For some, this is a true novelty!
The Duke of Edinburgh Award’s own research estimates that the improvement in wellbeing for each young person completing the award has a “social value” of around £4,400. What does that mean? Put simply, it’s about the sense of satisfaction and happiness that comes from doing things that are worthwhile.
What we need
The Expedition section of DofE and the Outdoor Education curriculum use a lot of equipment. To make sure all students are properly equipped, and that Outdoor Education is as effective as possible, the College needs to buy the following:
- three-person tents
- trangia (camping stove) sets
- gas canisters for trangias
- 70-litre rucksacks
- waterproof coats and trousers
- sleeping bags
- pairs of sturdy walking boots in a range of sizes.
We would be grateful for any contribution you can make as we expand this popular and important programme.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made