Nature’s Classroom
The CLA Charitable Trust award grants to Midlands charities
Back in June, the Trustees of the CLA Charitable Trust (CLACT) awarded 18 grants totalling £79,083 to charities across England and Wales, who are dedicated to connecting disadvantaged adults and children with the countryside. £14,500 was awarded within the Midlands region.
The CLACT is funded almost entirely by subscriptions and donations from CLA members, an organisation which supports nearly 26,000 farmers, landowners and rural businesses.
We would like to congratulate the recipients; Lowberdale Farm based in Staffordshire, the British Disabled Angling Association and Norton Hall Children and Family Centre, both located in the West Midlands.
Lowberdale Farm
Based in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Peak District National Park, Lowberdale farm, received a grant of £5,000 which has been used towards the salary of a part time Farm Coordinator.
Providing weekly day-time placements to around 20 young people aged between 11 and 18 every year, the farm provides a structured education programme for those who did not attend school or have special educational needs.
Through real life learning, the people attending undertake practical tasks in sustainable farming, food production, animal care and rural land management, which in turn improves their education and their connection to the environment around them.
The generous grant from the CLA Charitable Trust helps the Lowberdale Farm Trust to maintain and expand our work with young people on the farm. These young people face a wide range of challenges in life, and spending time on the farm in a safe, calm, friendly and welcoming environment can be life changing, and help them in a variety of ways. This can include helping build confidence, establishing relationships, and learning a range of skills for life.
British Disabled Angling Association
The British Disabled Angling Association received a grant of £4,500 which is being used towards their Schools outdoor Learning and Activity Project.
Delivering fully accessible, educational fishing day sessions for groups of eight to 12 children, the project aims to introduce disabled children to the joys of fishing.
These sessions help to enhance their physical, social and emotional well-being, whilst learning new skills in the countryside.
We would like to thank the CLA Charitable Trust for awarding us this grant. This support has enabled us to deliver engaging educational fishing sessions for children, helping to enhance their physical and emotional wellbeing while they learn new skills and connect with nature.
Norton Hall Children and Family Centre
Established in 2006, Norton Hall Children and Family Centre is located in Birmingham, and supports the local community in the Ward End and Alum Rock areas of East Birmingham.
Running the Dolphin Women’s Centre in Ward End Park, their mission is to support local children, young people and women to overcome disadvantage.
The CLACT have awarded £5,000 to the charity to enable them to create forest school programmes in the school holidays, arrange outdoor learning sessions to local countryside locations for children and families and pay for Forest School Leaders.
We are very grateful for the grant from the CLA Charitable Trust which has enabled us to help children and families from inner city Birmingham to connect with nature; locally and in the countryside. During school holidays children are attending Forest school in Ward End Park, and we are taking children and their families on trips to the Wyre Forest to experience nature in a wilder setting. Children are gaining Bushcraft skills - building shelters, foraging and learning how to make a safe fire. They learn about nature through fun games like our Ponds and Minibeast Safari – taking a close look at the mini beasts and pond creatures that live in nature, learning about their habitats and making a small ‘minibeast hotel’ to take home.
Find out more about the CLA Charitable Trust.