A GRANT from the Gannett Foundation earlier in 2019 enabled local youth charity Winchester Street Reach to take a group of young people on a three-day camping trip.

The group went to YMCA Fairthorne Manor in Curdridge where they took part activities designed to challenge themselves and to encourage team building.

The young people were accompanied by the Street Reach youth worker team who know the group well and were able to encourage them to overcome any doubts that they may have had over their ability to take part in the activities, including a fear of heights.

Many of the young people that the team take on the trip have never been camping before and some have never been away from home on a holiday.

YMCA Fairthorne staff were brilliant and provided a range of activities throughout the weekend which included crate challenge, a zip wire across the river and a climbing challenge called Jacobs Ladder, rounded off with a camp fire on the Saturday night. This all ensured that the young people had an amazing time and made the most of being outdoors.

The Street Reach minibus was used to transport the young people and the trip was a huge success, with many of the group wanting to come back next year!

Winchester Street Reach are extremely grateful to the Gannett Foundation, part of the company that owns the Chronicle, for the funding as the camping residential could not have taken place otherwise.

Winchester Street Reach is seeking to recruit youth workers to join the team to deliver a variety of projects to engage young people and help them reach their full potential. The work will be based in Winchester and surrounding areas.

To apply: https://www.winchesterstreetreach.org/support-us