Our projects
Campus runs projects throughout the year for around 130 children. Our main projects run in the summer – our Residential project is for children aged 8-13 whilst younger children from the age of 6 can attend day trips on our Hippocampus project. All children from the summer are invited back for a day on Winter Project, giving continuity to both helpers and children. A number of our thirteen year olds who demonstrate leadership potential are invited to be trained up as helpers on Young Helper Project which runs over Easter.
Click on a project to find out more!
Residential Project
Residential project runs throughout the school summer holidays, based at a site in North Yorkshire. On each week there is around 15 children (aged 8-13) and up to 17 volunteers, two of whom will coordinate the week. Children are split into small activity groups usually based on age and gender. There are normally 4-6 children in each group with two or three helpers, meaning each child receives a great deal of positive adult attention and helps develop meaningful relationships.
Both adults and children stay overnight on site and spend time there during the day where they are able to make use of our bouncy castle, large outdoor space (perfect for football and large group games) and craft room (helpers are often seen sporting fashionable face paint!).
Most days, groups are taken offsite in our minibuses to a range of fun activities in the local area. Some favourites include trips to the beach, swimming, horse riding, farm visits, adventure parks, ice skating, trampoline parks… the goal is to tire everyone out! Evenings are also busy, with activities such as campfires, BBQs, enjoying fish and chips in the park and scary night walks.
Hippocampus is our summer project for younger kids, from the age of 6, and those who would prefer to go on a non-residential project. Each week we take around 15 children although they don’t stay on site – we pick them up from home each morning and drop them off in the evening.
Mornings are spent playing with other children and helpers on site. We have a large sports hall for active games but kids can also take part in craft, face painting, Lego, cake decorating or just having a quiet chat.
We normally have lunch in a local park before heading offsite for more activities. Visits include swimming, farm visits, maize maze, horse riding and trips to nearby beaches.
Just like Residential project, Hippocampus has a high ratio of volunteers to children,
so that all children receive lots of positive adult attention, which enables them to develop their own interests and try new activities in a supportive environment.
Hippocampus Project
Winter Project
Young Helper Project
Young Helpers are trained volunteers aged between 14 and 17, all of whom attended Campus projects as children. Upon reaching the maximum age of attendance (13), those who have demonstrated the greatest potential for leadership are invited to attend Young Helper Project (YHP) – an intensive residential training weekend, during which they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to enable them to volunteer on Campus projects.
During YHP, potential Young Helpers are introduced to key aspects of the role, including child safeguarding, managing challenging behaviour and working as part of a team. They are provided with opportunities throughout the project to develop existing strengths and put into practice the new skills which they have learned through participation in interactive group sessions. The high ratio of adult volunteers to potential Young Helpers creates a supportive environment, which is conducive to personal development and considered reflection.
Following their successful completion of YHP, Young Helpers are invited to volunteer every summer thereafter. Many continue to volunteer on Campus projects into adulthood; some have even gone on to coordinate projects, or have taken up positions as trustees on Campus’ Executive Committee.