A pilot project developed by the eleven schools in the Whitley Excellence Cluster (WEC) together with the Ufton Court Educational Trust and local MP Martin Salter was presented to Education Secretary Ed Balls last week at a special meeting held in the Department for Children, Schools, and Families.

The project, which is seeking £588,000 of funding, aims to deliver 3,000 affordable outdoor adventure/summer camp opportunities to Whitley children for as little as £25 per week. It currently costs over £350 per week to send a child to an outdoor education centre - money that many families simply cannot afford.

The project builds on a unique and developing partnership between Ufton Court and the Whitley schools. Already teachers are seeing the benefit of a comparatively small number of children who have been able to experience outdoor camps in the summer and Easter at Ufton Court. The project hopes to build four specially designed student log cabins in the grounds of Ufton Court together with facilities and equipment for outdoor adventure activities including ropes courses, canoeing, archery, and orienteering.

Reading West MP Martin Salter said:-

“It’s been a long-held dream of mine to open up outdoor adventure opportunities to children in my constituency from less advantaged backgrounds. I never fail to be both amazed and depressed by the number of young people who live in a place like Reading but have no knowledge or comprehension of the wonders of the beautiful Berkshire countryside that is on our doorstep. I’m really pleased for those children whose parents can afford the cost of sending them to residential locations such as Rhos-Y-Gwaliau in North Wales, but the fact remains that due to cost those young people who need these experiences the most are often the least likely to go. This project demonstrates that you don’t have to take children two hundred miles away to give them hugely valuable experiences which can only help them develop the confidence to make the most of the opportunities that will come their way.”

Charlie Clare, Chair WEC, Headteacher Geoffrey Field Junior School said:-

“I am so pleased that Martin Salter managed to arrange a meeting for us with education minister Ed Balls.  Reading Girls’ School pupil, Kirsty Becket, various adults and Martin took the opportunity to speak passionately about the benefits of creating an outdoor residential centre at Ufton Court for Whitley pupils.  The minister must have been impressed.   I just hope he will be able to support us. I want every pupil in Whitley to feel that the boundaries of the estate have been extended to include Ufton Court; I want them to feel it’s theirs.”

Kirsty Beckett, 12, a pupil at Reading Girls’ School said:-

“The camp gave me a lot more self-esteem, independence and aspiration to achieve more in life.”

Sheila Beckett, Kirsty’s mum said:-

“Since Kirsty went to Ufton Court camp she has so much more confidence than she ever had before and that has given me confidence.”

Mary Riall, Director of the Ufton Court Educational Trust said:-

“Ufton Court Educational Trust is very excited at moving a step closer to the shared vision of an outdoor centre for Whitley children at Ufton Court.”

Lynda Miller, Chair of ASPIRE2 said:-

“We were very encouraged by our meeting with Ed Balls at the DCSF and hope that, with their help, we can turn our dream into a reality.  A dream of a permanent centre at Ufton Court for every child in Whitley, that can be used throughout a child’s school days from an early age, something they feel is theirs by right and gives more than a glimpse of what is possible when they take on challenges outside the estate.”

Sheila Tibbenham, WEC Manager said:-

“It was so important to advise the minister of the experience the children had from going to Ufton and the difference this can make in their lives.”

Susan Jobarteh, a parent said:-

“Giving every child the privilege of being able to go to this centre which doesn’t differentiate between those who have got money and those that don’t - everyone is treated equally.”

The delegation to meet Ed Balls was organised by Martin Salter on Tuesday 28^th April and attended by the individuals quoted above. Mr Balls has agreed to respond directly to Mr Salter and confirmed that he found the proposals both “inspiring and innovative”.

Martin Salter added:-

“I was really proud of the teachers, parents, and pupils who did such a great job of presenting our case to the Secretary of State. Even in these difficult economic times I remain optimistic at the prospect that Government will support this project which has the capacity to change young people’s lives and outlooks in a way that the classroom by its own never can.”