Monday 05-06-2023 - 11:00

As the current EHSU Disabled Students officer, I felt that it would be good to share my experiences of volunteering at the Bendrigg Trust. Bendrigg is an outdoor activity centre which specialises in enabling disabled and disadvantaged individuals to participate fully in activities which they would normally be unable to do.  It is surrounded by fells located in Kendal.

 

About Bendrigg 

 

Bendrigg provides new experiences to those who previously saw being in the outdoors as a challenge. Every day at Bendrigg is different, the activities vary from caving and hiking to climbing and ziplining. The centre is located between two national parks, Yorkshire Dales, and the Lake District, enabling participants and their families to take a break  from their everyday lives. 

 

My volunteering experiences

From volunteering here over a few weeks, I saw their standards of inclusion were impeccable. For example, I saw an adult with limited movement be provided with the means to climb a climbing wall, enabling him to physically touch the handholds . This was done using a full body harness.The highlight of working voluntarily at the trust is seeing the participants progress and what each participant achieves from their time there. I volunteered for the span of two weekends and a fortnight,  each time I was there was a different experience, as throughout the volunteering experience, I worked with a group of adults with physical disabilities, teenagers with cerebral palsy and a group of prospective clients. I have learnt a range of skills from this including flexibility, as every individual had different needs needing to be addressed, time management especially when making sure tables are set and the food is prepared promptly and activity specific skills such as using a paddle. During archery I supported an adult to correctly attach arrows to the bow whilst ensuring that they had the independence to have a go themselves, only intervening when required.

 

A day volunteering at Bendrigg 

From 8 am (Breakfast) until late evening the day was full. Activities began at 9:15 am. This involved assisting the instructors in facilitating the activities for participants and encouraging them to get involved in them, from talking to someone scared of heights about ziplining, to racing on accessible bikes. Other responsibilities undertaken were serving and clearing up during mealtimes, making and cleaning flasks, getting to know the group and tidying the equipment away.
 

Volunteering Timeline:

8:00 am- own breakfast.
8:30 am- help serve breakfast and make up flasks for the day if required.
9:15 am- onwards- help prepare and facilitate activity.
12:30pm- help out at lunch time.
1:30pm- support in setting up and conducting next activities.
4:30pm- help in putting kit away from previous activities.
5:30pm- eat evening meal.
5:45pm- serve participants evening meals.
6:45pm- support in set up and conducting of activities.
9:00pm- support in setting up for next days mealtime.

 

Why should you volunteer here?

•    Meet others who share the same passion for the outdoors.
•    Experience first-hand what it takes to adapt activities for all.
•    Work in an environment surrounded by natural beauty.

I really enjoyed my time working at Bendrigg and I strongly encourage you to get involved in this fantastic organisation whether that is as a participant or volunteer. I believe that having the ability to provide outdoor adventure spaces for all is essential to reduce stereotypes of what people with additional needs can do and in order to support them in expanding outside their comfort zone.