This Autumn a small group of young people with special educational needs had the chance to complete their own National Citizen Service (NCS) journey at the Calvert Trust in Keswick.
The pupils from James Rennie School and Ullswater Community College stayed at the Trust for four days taking part in adventure activities such as a trip to Dodd Wood, a high rope and climbing course and a trip to investigate Goldscope Mine, which is a disused copper mine in the Newlands Valley.
The young people then spent three days based at Inspira’s Lowther Street centre in Carlisle.
“The days spent at the Inspira centre where all about taking part in independent living tasks such as shopping for ingredients, then baking and decorating a cake,” said Stevie Baty, NCS Co-ordinator with Inspira.
“They also paid a visit to Carlisle Castle and the Cumbria Museum of Military Life to learn more about Carlisle as their home City.”
The NCS Autumn programme mirrors the larger and longer summer programme, so the young people also developed and completed their own social action project.
“After a guided tour by Peter Rhodes to find out how the service supports families in the area, the group chose to support Water St Hostel in Carlisle which is a safe and positive environment for women and children who need support with housing issues or may have been faced with domestic violence,” continued Mr Baty.
The team created parcels of toys, games and clothing which were kindly donated by local stores from the city centre.