PRESS RELEASE: Action packed day for Winchester befriending service
Friends of the Family’s 5s to 13s Befriending Service had a summer activity day to remember at Calshot Activities Centre on Thursday 25th August. The Winchester-based charity took a group of 11 children and 10 volunteers to the edge of the New Forest to take on the challenges of Calshot’s dry ski slope and climbing walls.
The annual trip gives the children, who are currently receiving the support of a befriender, the opportunity to try new activities, overcome their fears and have fun. All of the children, who are aged between 5 and 13, were given the chance to participate in Ringos and Take Off, two of the centre’s most popular action adventure experiences.
The dry weather enabled everyone to enjoy a packed lunch on the beach, paddle in the sea, play games and undertake a scavenger hunt. To round off the trip, the children and volunteers were treated to an ice-cream before heading home.
Sam Hunt, 5s to 13s Befriending Manager at Friends of the Family, said: “It was wonderful to have the opportunity to take our focus children and their volunteers to Calshot again after a two year break; they all had so much fun! Many of them had never tried the ringos or wall climbing before but all embraced these new experiences with enthusiasm and confidence. We cannot thank Waitrose Give a Little Love enough for providing the funding for the day’s activities and our thanks also go to the Saint Vincent De Paul Society for sourcing and paying for the minibus and refreshments. It was a truly fantastic day out and there were some wonderful memories made!”
Friends of the Family needs volunteers to join their befriending team. They would like to hear from anyone interested in applying for their next befriender training course, taking place in Winchester in October. Email volunteer@fotfwinchester.org or call 01962 864466 for further details.
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