How we provide a successful Prince's Trust residential
Fun. Hard work. Outdoor challenges.
The primary aim of the week is to bond the group into a team and this goes hand in hand with the young people learning about themselves. Not only do they learn new skills, they also learn that they can do things which they initially would dismiss as impossible. This is crucial to the success of the week and the course. It gives the young person the confidence to tackle any problem or task. At Rough Edges, we firmly believe that the area to do this is in the outdoors, away from home or the residential centre. It usually puts the young person in alien surroundings and out of their comfort zone.
Our instructors enjoy working in the outdoors and introducing people to their world but more importantly they enjoy bringing out the hidden talents of the team members.
We have a constant dialogue with the team leaders about each individuals development and needs.
We have a patient but persistent approach which focus’s on the end result rather than the time taken to achieve it.
We don't have a fixed programme for the week. We adapt the activities and the timings depending on safety, the team's abilities and the weather.
We aim to work away from the residential centre as much as possible during the day, at real outdoor venues.
Every activity and the soft skills required are related to the workplace.
Activities are preceded by a risk assessment that is run by the young people.
During the evenings we focus on problem solving at the residential centre and conclude with a daily review.
We finish the week with a very powerful and productive review on the last evening.
All our instructors partake in the sports we offer on the residential and are only too willing to pass on their enthusiasm and knowledge and to explain how a beginner can start in what initially seems to be a dangerous, difficult activity. At the end of the week we can provide written details about how they can further investigate any sports they are interested in.
Risk and safety - Perceived risk - Actual risk.
Safety is always paramount in what we do, so the programme is shaped around the weather and the groups abilities. Occasionally activities have to be cancelled due to safety considerations and if this happens the reasons are always fully explained. Most people don't know what they are capable of so one of the most important jobs the instructors do is to manage the real risk and encourage the young person through their perceived risk.
The instructors at Rough Edges have all seen the benefits of the Prince's Trust Team programme and working on a proven programme with committed team leaders keeps instructors motivated and enthusiastic about their job.
Conflicts within the group are inevitable, either through personality clashes, failure to complete a task, tiredness or any other myriad reasons. These provide an important opportunity to practice conflict resolution, be tolerant and to learn to understand and value differences.
Along with the hard work, team building, pushing personal limits and learning new skills, we aim to make the residential as much fun as possible. A sense of humour is vital!
We offer the following activities:
Rock climbing and abseiling, indoors and outside
Caving and potholing
Hill walking and navigation.
Ghyll scrambling.
Improvised raft building and canoeing
Orienteering
Weasling
Problem solving
Bushcraft