Youngsters reach new heights with trips

A County Durham charity is helping local youngsters build skills and confidence through outdoor adventures.

Durham Area Youth has used a £1600 grant from the Banks Community Fund to fund an overnight trip to the Moor House Adventure Centre, near West Rainton, for a dozen children aged 12 to 14. 

Activities included high ropes, crate stacking and shelter building, alongside teambuilding, cookery, and fire safety sessions.

Plans are now underway for a second residential stay at the TCR Hub, in Barnard Castle, for 16 young people. 

The trip will offer outdoor activities such as pond dipping, canoeing, orienteering and tent building, also funded by the Banks grant.

Emily Burns, chief executive at Durham Area Youth, said: “The cost of putting on residential experiences is usually well beyond our reach, so having Banks’ support in funding these trips means we can open them up to the whole of the West Rainton community.

“We’re working to empower our young people by showing them that they’re capable of much more than they might think and to give them a greater sense of self-confidence through everything they achieve.

“The residentials also allow new friendships to be formed which will continue once everyone’s back in their community and it’s brilliant to see how our young people really thrive when they’re given chances like this.

“The feedback from both participants and their families has been really positive, and we’re already well on with making plans for our next residential.”

Durham Area Youth supports around 300 children weekly across Pittington, Shadforth, Sherburn Hill, Sherburn Village, West Rainton, Great Lumley and Bournmoor. 

The charity encourages young people to develop lifelong skills, embrace new opportunities and participate in activities that foster personal, social, and educational growth.

Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at family-owned property and energy firm Banks Group, which is headquartered in County Durham, added: “Durham Area Youth provides opportunities for young people which might otherwise be out of their reach and the positive impact that its work has on them is plain to see.

“Banks has a long history of supporting good causes in the communities in which we’re active and we’re very pleased to be helping to give young people in West Rainton the chance to try new outdoor activities, learn new skills and make new friends.”

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