Case Study of Open Gates Outdoors walk - Roundabout Limited






Open Gates Outdoors – Roundabout Hostel Walk Case Study

On Tuesday 5th March, we had arranged with George Yates from Open Gates Outdoors to take some of our Young People on a lovely walk in the Peak District. It was perfect weather, and everyone was in good spirits. Rachel one of the Project Workers attended along with three Occupational Therapy Students to gain better experience working with young people. Four of the young people attended, which included Mason, Ahmed, Dimitrii, and Stephanie. 

George arrived at the hostel at around 11am and had a chat with the young people before heading over to the mini bus used to take us to the Peak District. The area we went to was called Froggatt Edge, and provided us with fantastic views all around. It was a sunny day, which meant it didn’t get too cold, and we could see the beauty of the countryside. George was very knowledgeable about the surrounding area, providing great bits of information along the way keeping us all chatting.

This was a brilliant opportunity for the Young People to experience the outdoors, when so much of their time is spent inside. Stephanie helped to navigate a map with help from George, and we followed the trail taking in the sights. The young people were also surprised to see lots of deer, and enjoyed (safely!) climbing some of the boulders. We passed an ancient stone circle, and wandered through a few tricky fields! 



George provided lunch for everyone, which was much needed to get the Young People’s energy levels back up. Stephanie and Dimitrii led the way being at the front of the group, but Ahmed and Mason who were not as used to longer walks started to feel more tired towards the end, but they pushed on! We all made it back to the mini bus and the young people each had a coke at the little pub nearby.


On the journey back it was very quiet, everyone was pretty exhausted! The young people said they loved the experience, and would definitely want to go on another walk soon. A huge thank you to George, who they thought was really good company and made them feel comfortable on the walk, having lots of positive conversations along the way. He was sure to include everyone in the experience, and motivate those who were getting worn out to carry on. 



This was so important for the young people to spend quality time outside, which is something they rarely get to do. They all said they felt like kids again, which is really good for them to let go of their worries and just have a fun adventure together. Next time more young people should attend as the positive news of their trip definitely spread in the hostel!




 

 


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