For so many of us in Yorkshire, wide open green spaces and an array of wildlife and farm animals are an everyday sight. But Wednesday 13 September was a day full of firsts and excitement for almost 500 Yorkshire schoolchildren, who had the chance to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the farm for the very first time through our Schools Out programme.
Schools Out aims to give children the opportunity to enjoy, explore and engage in the world around them, have fun, and most importantly be what children should be: carefree. As one teacher explained, although many of us in Yorkshire may take seeing a sheep or a field for granted, this was an entirely new experience for many of the children:
“These children, a lot of them, haven’t even seen outside of the street they live on, or their local area. So for them it’s so important to be exposed to all these different opportunities. Not just seeing all the farm animals but meeting all the volunteers, learning peoples’ roles within a farm.”
Far beyond giving them a new experience and a day of fun and exploration, the trip also gives them the opportunity to engage with the curriculum in new ways and develop the skills that will support their future education:
“It’s not just a day out on a farm. It’s going to create so much more for these children in terms of the things we can then do in school with them. Writing opportunities, sharing their experiences. These children are in year 6 so it’s their final year of primary school and to be able to provide them with an experience like this will give them a wealth of knowledge. It’s not just about being on a farm, there are so many things in terms of their social development, personal development, it’s huge.”
And we think the children’s feedback sums it up even better: “It was the best day of my life.”
The cost-of-living crisis and the lingering impact of the pandemic mean that families and schools’ budgets are hugely stretched, making even everyday essentials unaffordable, let alone luxuries like trips out. The generosity of our supporters is what makes experiences like this possible for the children we support.
We’re incredibly grateful for all of the people who helped us make the day so special. Thank you to the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Prefect volunteers, the individual volunteers who came along and our brilliant corporate supporters:
Arcadis, BWB Consulting, CBRE, Henry Boot, ID Planning, IHP, JPG, Knight Frank, MAC Construction, Turner & Townsend, Vinci Building and Womble Bond Dickinson.
We hope you had as much fun as the children did!
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It’s only with the incredible generosity of our supporters that we are able to provide the experiences, grants and programmes to so many children across Yorkshire. Help us continue to make things better by making a donation.
