New 'Petchey-fied' Tower Opens At Hindleap
05 June 2015
Friday 5 June 2015
A new abseiling and climbing activity tower opened yesterday at Hindleap Warren, London Youth’s outdoor education centre in East Sussex. The 10 metres high structure includes an 80 metre long zip-wire and was built by the youth charity following a generous £75,000 grant from the Jack Petchey Foundation.
The new ‘Petchey-fied’ Tower will ensure opportunities for adventure are guaranteed for children and young people in the future, particularly those with disabilities and young people from areas of economic deprivation.
Sela, 19, who sits on London Youth’s Talent Match London Youth Board commented: “I felt like a baby taking it’s first steps!”
Chelsea, 10, from Minster CE Primary said: “I’m really happy I did it. I felt nervous in my tummy but really relieved when I got to the bottom.”
Hindleap Warren provides a sustained boost to young people’s confidence, character and skills, enhancing the social and emotional capabilities they need to become successful adults. The centre provides gold standard outdoor education to young people from youth clubs, schools and SEN schools and groups. Both the tower and the zip wire are fully inclusive and have been designed for disabled young people as well as able-bodied young people.
Commenting at the launch of ‘Petchey-fied’, Chief Executive Officer of the Jack Petchey Foundation, Trudy Kilcullen said:
“Jack Petchey Foundation’s mission is to enable young people to achieve their potential. We do this by investing in and developing activities that increase their personal, social, emotional and physical development. Outdoor education at Hindleap Warren delivers these outcomes for 10,000 young people a year. So we’re delighted to support the construction and development of the new ‘Petchey-fied’ Tower as part of London Youth’s My Hindleap campaign. Thousands of young people a year will use the Tower for climbing, abseiling and zip wiring, developing their confidence and resilience in the process. And as they stand at the bottom trying to find the courage to begin, they’ll be inspired by the Jack Petchey’s personal motto for life – if you think you can, you can!”
This generous grant from the Jack Petchey Foundation was the first contribution to London Youth’s exciting My Hindleap capital appeal. My Hindleap aims to secure £1.2 million of investment into Hindleap’s activities and infrastructure so London Youth can continue to deliver gold standard outdoor education to 100,000 young people over the next 10 years. * At least 20,000 of these young people are facing disadvantage and disabilities.
During the past 50 years, the centre has delivered adventure, learning and development to nearly 300,000 young people. But the availability of gold standard outdoor education is under threat, Hindleap’s facilities are under pressure, and young people’s educational needs are changing. But the value and development learning away from the classroom can offer still remains just as crucial, if not more so,today.
Commenting on the need for My Hindleap, Rosie Ferguson, Chief Executive of London Youth, said:
“More young people are now visiting Hindleap than ever before, they are staying longer and learning more while they are here. But the need and demand for quality outdoor education continues to increase and evolve while the opportunities are reducing; 1 in 3 outdoor centres in the UK is closing and many schools and youth groups can no longer offer subsidised places for young people from poorer backgrounds.
Through My Hindleap we want to make sure that all young people, regardless of needs, can fully experience everything we have to offer and achieve the same outcomes as anyone else. And thanks to the generous contribution from the Jack Petchey Foundation we can ensure just that!”
Photography Francis Augusto
