West View Project was created in 1980 with a desire to provide safe areas for children and young people to play. The concept has evolved over the years and they now offer activities that have been created to enhance skills within children and young people. Focussing on outdoor learning, the community interest company engages with children and young people from the ages of 5-19 years and has more recently provided team building activities to corporate organisations.
Wynyard Park, a unique private housing development in the Tees Valley supports the organisation and has allowed the use of a secluded area of woodland to support West View Project in its delivery of outdoor learning activities.
The woodland area at Wynyard Park is used for development programmes that aim to build self-esteem, support positive behaviour and encourage calculated risk taking. Participants become involved in activities such as den building, fire safety and foraging.
Rebecca Ferguson from West View Project explains: “Learning outside the classroom is so valuable. Removing children and young people from the world of technology and encouraging them to think more practically introduces skills they may not otherwise be exposed to. Managed risk taking allows children and young people to explore the possibilities and consider the outcomes of their actions.”
In conjunction with Wynyard Park, the group has launched a woodland signage competition to encourage schools to design signage to promote considerate use of the woodland area. Entries are being received and the deadline for the competition is 22nd May with winners announced in June. Winning entries will see their designs made into signs which will be displayed on site at Wynyard Park.
Wynyard Park is a luxury private estate home to self-build plots and developments by elite national house builders. The unique site incorporates over 250 acres of woodland area alongside residential and business properties.
Craig Pinder, development manager at Wynyard Park said: “We are glad to help the team at West View Project who are delivering exciting activities for young people. Their carefully planned sessions create valuable outputs which provide skills children and young people can take into their adult life. The signage competition adds an extra dimension to the activities and allows young people to get really creative, we are looking forward to seeing the entries.”
Any Hartlepool schools wishing to take part in the competition should contact Rebecca Ferguson at West View Project by calling 01429 272699.