Wild Women’s Activity Experiences

Aim

To provide women with opportunities to try outdoor activities in a supportive and relaxed environment which aims to improve mental wellbeing

Who are Wild Wonder & Wisdom?

We are a female team delivering empowering outdoor learning and Forest/Beach School experiences to young people with the aim to boost emotional literacy (confidence, motivation, self-belief, self-regulation, empathy and social skills) in Cornwall.  We do this by running Forest School & Bushcraft sessions for children and families, curriculum-based learning sessions delivering Science and Maths in the outdoors, and Wild Camp Adventure programmes for young women.

What are we trying to do?

As a social enterprise we are hoping to create positive change by helping to develop a more resilient society.  We aim to improve both physical and mental health by reconnecting young people with nature their local community networks.  Our flagship project is a Wild Camp Training Programme offered to vulnerable young women (14-24) who are either not in education, employment or training (N.E.E.T) or at risk of becoming so, who are experiencing anxiety and/or depression.  These programmes help to develop kayaking, canoeing and SUP skills, campfire cooking and basic expedition skills over a 6-week (1 day a week) course that culminates in an over-night camp that the group have planned themselves.  The young women are referred onto the programme by social workers and youth workers from various departments at Cornwall Council, private referrals and other social services including the Women’s Centre and youth mental health charities.  The current run of this project has 6 spaces and more than double the number of applicants so there is a real need for a provision like this.

Why is this important?

As a community interest company (CIC) we can apply for grants to help support this project, but we would like to become sustainable in our own right.  To do this we will be offering Women’s Retreats to paying customers where we will enable women of all ages to try new adventure activities in a fully supportive environment, delivered by a professional female team of outdoor instructors.  We are offering kayaking, canoeing, SUP, yoga, running, sea swimming and wild camping.  We are based in a beautiful part of South Cornwall where we have woodland and a sheltered bay within walking distance.   

How will your support help us?

The money raised through crowdfunding and grants will help us to research and market a series of pilot Wild Women’s Activity Retreats, and to purchase a large bell tent to give us a sheltered space to allow for sustainable delivery of my project in all weathers. We will also be able to fund more empowering Wild Camp Adventure Training Programmes for vulnerable young women in Cornwall.

This project successfully funded on 25th September 2019