CLA Charitable Trust
Essex charity to receive funding boost to support lunchtime forest school
Kids Inspire, a Chelmsford based charity that provides mental health and emotional wellbeing support for children and young people, has been given a funding boost by the Country Land and Business Association Charitable Trust (CLACT) to support its work.
The CLACT is funded almost entirely by subscriptions and donations from members of the CLA, an organisation which represents around 28,000 farmers, landowners and rural businesses.
It provides grants to charities and community organisations across England and Wales who share its vision to help connect young people who are disabled or disadvantaged with the countryside.
Kids Inspire has been awarded £2500 which will go towards Forest School Activity Clubs, based in the charity’s gardens. The sessions will show the children how they can have the freedom to play, build, create, imagine and use their senses to experience the outdoors.
The forest school activities will increase the children’s confidence and self-esteem through exploration and problem solving, and they will be encouraged to learn how to assess and take appropriate risks depending on their environment.
Paula Ashfield, Head of Fundraising and Communications at Kids Inspire, said:
“We are thrilled to have secured funding from the CLACT that will help us to run our lunchtime forest school activities, which we know have a really positive impact on the young people we work with.
“Kids Inspire was founded to fill a gap in mental health services for children, young people and their families. Exploring the great outdoors has so many mental and physical benefits and our forest school sessions are a fantastic way for our visitors to gain a really positive and rewarding experience.”
Since its foundation in 1980, the CLACT has given more than £2m in grants to a wide variety of organisations and projects.
Bridget Biddell, Chairman of CLACT, said:
“We are delighted to award funding to so many incredible organisations that are having such a positive impact on the lives of young people.
“Getting out in the fresh air can provide so many mental and physical benefits and I look forward to hearing how the forest school lunchtime clubs at Kids Inspire motivate and inspire the young people who take part.”