Wild Embers is celebrating a year of transformative impact made possible by funding from the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund.
Founded in 2017 by Richard Scofield, Wild Embers delivers inclusive, nature-based programmes for children, young people, and families with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties.
Following a successful application to the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund in 2023, Wild Embers has successfully delivered its first year programme of events and activities for children, young people and their families.
Year one of three has seen Wild Embers deliver;
14 SEND forest school holiday clubs
12 SEND weekend family days
12 weekend parent and child days
12 boys fire circles
1 SEND family weekend retreat
These funded projects have benefitted over 170 participants from the SEND community in South Devon. Participants have gained invaluable opportunities to build confidence, develop life skills, and connect with others in a supportive environment. By developing a deep connection to nature, Wild Embers continues to create a space where individuals of all abilities can thrive, grow, and feel empowered through inclusive outdoor, therapeutic, nature-based programmes.
Funding from the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund has been allocated to activities and events that are delivered outside of school hours, over a three-year period, ensuring that SEND children are supported to thrive beyond the classroom.
Richard Scofield, director and founder of Wild Embers comments on the first year of the funding: “Receiving the grant from the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund has been vital to the work we do at Wild Embers. It enables us to deliver our out-of-school hours programmes, which provide a lifeline for children, young people and their families in the SEND community. This support allows us to offer accessible, nature-based opportunities that build confidence, support resilience, and create lasting connections. Without this funding, many of these transformative experiences simply wouldn’t be possible, and we’re incredibly grateful to the National Lottery players for helping us make such a meaningful difference in South Devon."
Alongside its out-of-school-hours support, Wild Embers provides an alternative outdoor provision for children that struggle with the traditional paths within mainstream education. The Transitional Support Programme provides an alternative approach to learning that focuses on individuality, creativity and emotional wellbeing, helping children to re-engage with education and learning.
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