Wider World is a Bristol-based children's charity. We deliver life and learning skills development programmes for economically disadvantaged children, aged 8 - 12 years across Bristol. Our programmes are split into three categories: experiential - children are taken on daily trips, taking part in activities designed to help them build their skills; theory - classroom-based workshops and courses helping children understand and practise their skills; and parent support - this includes parenting classes supporting with behaviour, independence and confidence, and academic support such as maths and English. We aim to level the playing field so that all children, regardless of their background, can access high-quality life-changing extra-curricular activities in their local areas, which enable them to flourish and become self-aware, confident adults who are active in their local communities. We believe one of the best ways to do this is through tailored programmes to help children from low-income families gain essential skills.
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We work with children from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and widely differing interests and needs. Our activities create opportunities for them to move outside their comfort zones, and “bond” around a common experience, creating friendships in their local communities.
We also work with parents and involve them, to provide support to the children and uphold the skills they learn by attending the programmes.
Wider World works closely with schools to help us identify children who are potentially vulnerable and at risk of not achieving their potential without intervention, who would benefit most from our programmes.
We provide that intervention over a 7-month period, taking them on exciting activities across the Southwest, during the school holidays. Whilst children from more afluent families are able to access these types of activities and reap the benefits, allowing them to develop interests and learn about themselves and who they want to be, many children from low-income backgrounds do not have the same opportunities. We address this inequality, aiming to allow more children to be who they want to be by developing the necessary skills and attitudes.
Our activities are more than just 'fun days out', they are opportunities to practise and improve these essential skills, which children will later apply in their environment and community.
Our aim is to work with educational settings and children living in deprived areas that are unlikely to receive funding and support, but also to extend our reach to low-income families within affluent areas, to ensure all children receive the same amount of opportunities and support.
We aim to empower communities and their members by promoting activities with an active citizen focus: in our previous programmes, children have explored City Hall and spoken with the Mayor and other members of staff there about their jobs and they undertook activities focusing on art and architecture to encourage them to think about their local space and their surroundings.