The Chester Bluecoat Charity is pleased to be able to make an impact in the lives of over 40 local children following a grant of £4,000 to The Cheshire West and Chester Chairman’s Trust.
Established in 2014, the Trust supports the advancement of education by funding residential trips for school children from low-income families. These empowering excursions are a fantastic way for children to learn outside the classroom whilst at the same time encouraging personal development, which in turn boosts mental health and improves communication and team building skills.
Schools ask families to contribute towards the trips in order to cover the bed and board aspect. Low-income families can often struggle to afford this, which has been heightened by the cost of living crisis which has caused everyday bills, such as food and heating, to dramatically increase. Research has shown that it is often children from these families who benefit the most from residential trips as generally they have less chances to be apart from their families, which helps children gain independence and develop personal aspirations. This can greatly improve confidence, mental health and self-worth, which positively feeds back into school life and boosts their learning ability. One child supported by the trust said “I feel that I have become more of a member of the class team since going away on the residential and am more confident in the group.”
The residentials are often a remarkable success, with children not only developing great life skills, but also really enjoying the trip. One child commented her greatest challenge was “Sleeping somewhere else which was not near my home and I overcame it by spending time with my friends and having a good time.”
The Chester Bluecoat Charity aims to tackle the causes of poverty and inequality in and around Chester and believes everyone should have the same opportunities in life, starting in childhood. The charity was delighted to be able to fund The Cheshire West and Chester Chairman’s Trust for this project as it supports disadvantaged pupils from low income families. This grant will support this generation and the next by building key skills that will help young people to change the course of their future. The grant awarded will mean the trips are fully subsidised so there is no cost to the families involved.
To find out more about how The Chester Bluecoat Charity could support your organisation, call our friendly team on 01244 345 787 or email office@thechesterbluecoatcharity.co.uk
