CHILDREN’S CHARITY Barnardo’s has had their B-Wild project extended by a year to continue helping young people get back into education.
The project was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2020, and was orginally meant to finish at the end of the month.
The project is aimed at young people who struggle to attend school and develop relationships with their peers.
The nature-based programme gives children, young people and families the chance to benefit from outdoor learning, play and therapeutic practice.
The B-Wild project currently takes place in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Inverclyde Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. A new group will be start in Fife later this year.
More than 800 children and young people, aged from one to 24, have been supported through therapeutic experiences to help build a greater attachment to nature and to increase self and social awareness.
Claire Reid, B-Wild project co-ordinator at Barnardo’s said: “The results have been very positive indeed. Many of the young people attending B-Wild sessions have bonded and made friends with others on the programme.
“Others have very much found their ‘voice’ and developed some really important communication skills. Of course, in this process they have developed a stronger connection to nature and a desire to protect it – something that is more important than ever.”
A variety of activities are available, from nature walks with expectant parents, messy outdoor play for babies, and games in nature that allow children and young people to build an emotional vocabulary.
One example of an activity to build emotional awareness was described by project worker Kenny Fulton.
He said: “The young people were engaging in an activity using natural materials and outlines of people to show how different emotions are felt in the body.
“They chose their own emotions to depict ‘grief’ and ‘scared’. Two young people dug a hole in the area of the heart to show how empty grief feels.
“Others used prickly leaves around the body to show fear. It was very brave and trusting of the young people to share their feelings and experiences in the group setting.”
One young person a lay a stick across the head of the outline to represent how they block out traumatic memories.
A young boy, who’s life was all about gaming, also benefited from the woodland activities run by the Edinburgh Together service.
His mother commented: “Through B-Wild he has blossomed. For the first time, he has friends, he looks forward to B-Wild sessions and even talks to me about them when he comes home.
“It’s the first time in a long time I’ve heard him talk about something other than gaming. He has even bought himself a microscope.
“I’m so grateful he has had the opportunity to be part of B-Wild with Barnardo’s.”
In the past year, Barnardo’s Scotland has provided essential support to more than 11,500 children, young people, parents and carers across the country.
