Surrey epilepsy charity secures CLA Charitable Trust funding to help connect youngsters with outdoors learning

A Surrey-based epilepsy charity been awarded £3,000 from the CLA Charitable Trust (CLACT) to help connect young people with outdoors learning.

The trust is funded almost entirely by subscriptions and donations from members of the CLA, an organisation which represents thousands of farmers, landowners and rural businesses.

It provides grants to charities and community organisations who share its vision to help connect young people who are disabled or disadvantaged with the countryside and nature.

Young Epilepsy, based in Lingfield, Surrey, is among the groups to successfully apply for funding in the most recent round of awards, receiving £3,000.

St Piers School and College, part of Young Epilepsy, offers a creative environment for young people aged five to 25 with epilepsy, autism, severe learning difficulties, speech, language and communication needs, and sensory and/or physical needs.

It currently supports 172 vulnerable students and will use the CLACT grant to help run its Outdoor and Woodland Learning (OWL) programme. It includes a horticultural centre, working farm, wetlands and sensory conservation area and multi-skills programme.

A spokesman said: “All 172 students participate in the OWL Programme and the grant will ensure every student has everything they need to participate in all the activities.

“The grant will help to keep the OWL Programme running at full capacity, improving the health, wellbeing, physical and sensory development and independence of our students.

“It will help to develop other important key skills within their learner journey, including literacy, numeracy, money skills, communication, language, cognition and creativity. Outdoor learning allows our students to learn through alternative methods which are not bound by restrictions of language.”

The grant will go towards running the programme, including paying for items including tools, machinery, materials, bulbs, plants, flowers, vegetables, health and safety equipment, potting sheds equipment, heating the greenhouse, polytunnels, animal feed and bedding and commercial production.

Bridget Biddell, Chairman of CLACT, said: “The charitable trust is thrilled to be able to help such a fantastic learning programme.

“The programme makes a massive difference to so many young lives and we’re delighted to play a small part in supporting its work.”