The Mitchemp Trust

Introduction

The Mitchemp Trust is a youth development charity working with vulnerable children from Wiltshire. It aims to improve the outlook of these young people and enable them to play a constructive part in society. It accomplishes this by providing outdoor adventure camps that develop their 'believe-to-achieve' process, which is essential if they are to unlock and realise their own potential.

The Mitchemp Trust is the only charity undertaking this kind of project in Wiltshire. It covers all of the costs associated with the camps, including transport, clothing, equipment, tents, activity instructors and food. This enables all children to benefit from the camps, no matter what their current situation.

The Mitchemp Trust receives no Government funding and therefore relies totally upon the generosity of voluntary donations from the public and companies to run its camps each year. In order to secure the camps for 2002 it is essential that the Trust raises £32,000 prior to March 2002.

Without this provision, these children have little or no chance for their own development. This type of opportunity can have a lasting effect on a child life and benefit the community as a whole by reducing the number of children that drop out of education, turn to drugs and alcohol or become involved in crime.

A recent report by Wiltshire Education Authority revealed a shocking statistic:1 in 4 children in Wiltshire are vulnerable. This accounts for a total of 25,000.

These are children whose healthy development is most at risk and who are poorly prepared to "participate socially and economically as citizens" when they enter adulthood. They are more likely

• to be in poor physical health

• to make poor educational progress at school

• to be involved in risky behaviour – drugs, alcohol, unsafe sex and smoking

• to experience abuse

• to become involved in offending

The Mitchemp Trust works with schools and social services to identify those children who will benefit most from this unique opportunity to develop themselves and make a lasting improvement to their lives.

The camps are run on a back to basics approach, all accommodation is under canvas and all the children are encouraged to develop their ability to live outdoors, including gaining an understanding of the environment around them.

They attend their first camp when they are 11 or 12 years old and are introduced to a variety of new and challenging activities. For many, the experience of staying away from home will be new in itself: the chance to rock climb, explore caves and journey by canoe is beyond their wildest dreams . They soon start to understand the benefits of working together with others and the need to be aware of the different abilities within their group.

A year later, at the age of 12 or 13, the children are given the opportunity to return to the senior camp, where many of the lessons already learned are developed and they start to gain a real sense of self reliance, self esteem and a responsibility for their actions.

Following this second camp, the majority of children are able to:

• Demonstrate an increasing self confidence, self reliance and independence.

• Be able to develop personal relationships with others and be able to cooperate with them.

• Obtain a sense of achievement from their personal and group activities, which will give them a sense of self esteem.

• Gain a broader outlook and be able to understand the views and perspectives of others

• Take ownership for their decisions and responsibilities.

• Develop problem solving skills.

• Develop goal setting skills.

• Gain a greater understanding of environmental issues.

Throughout the young people’s involvement with the Trust, they are encouraged to join other youth organisations such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme or the Scouting Association, this enables continuity in their learning and on going development to continue.

What your support means to the Mitchemp Trust

Your donation whether large or small will enable the Mitchemp Trust to improve the lives of children in Wiltshire.

• £16,000 could run a summer camp for 40 children

• £400 could provide this opportunity for one child

• £2,500 could provide qualified instructors and staff for one camp

• £900 could provide transport for one camp

• £200 could train one volunteer staff member