Earlier in the Summer it was great to meet young people from Horsham and the surrounding area attending the National Citizens Service camp at Blacklands Farm near East Grinstead.
Teams from across Sussex aged 15-17 were spending two weeks learning life skills. The first week stretched their mental and physical stamina. – abseiling, rock climbing and a lot of “jumping off tall things” (happily without injury)!
Having learned more about themselves, their skills and personalities the second week focused on them as a team. This was about bringing out the most, not only of themselves but of each other: learning communication skills and that everyone has personal strengths and weaknesses and can contribute. As one of the students said to me “it was great – from helping each other through the personal challenges as individuals in the first week we grew together as a team in the second”.
All of this was training with a purpose. The team were back in Horsham for week 3 and I was invited to visit them in the Youth Centre. Week 3’s objective is for their team skills to be put to good use in creating a community project. They decided to raise awareness and funds for “Young Minds”. This is a charity which supports young people suffering from mental health issues.
The team are providing practical help by holding a fete on Friday 7th August 11-4pm at Rudgwick Social Club. Plans are well advanced and all profits will be going to “Young Minds”. Culinary highlights will include a barbeque and a chocolate fountain with singing accompaniment!
There are so many vibrant charities and social networks in the Horsham area. If the young volunteers of the National Citizens Service are anything to go by this great Horsham tradition will be flourishing for many years to come.