Widehorizons: harnessing the power of the outdoors for disadvantaged children

Widehorizons Outdoor Education Trust provides inspiring, high quality outdoor education to disadvantaged students. The Social Investment Business invested £1,736,300 from the Futurebuilders Fund in Widehorizons to enable it to refurbish two outdoor education centres and establish a central office facility.

The Social Investment Business raised our ambitions because at the time my objectives were modest – only to build an office. We had a business plan full with our aspirations for the next five years and it was The Social Investment Business who said they could help us with costing some of our services up so that we could make a major step change in our provision.” - Mike Penney, CEO

About the organisation

Widehorizons delivers a range of day and residential outdoor education courses designed around the National Curriculum from nursery to AS level. The courses provide an alternative method (to lessons) of learning and also help to increase student confidence, social skills and attendance.

Established in 2004 as a joint initiative by the London Boroughs of Lewisham and Greenwich, Widehorizons was formed to transfer the management of the education centres to an independent organisation, with the aim of restoring and sustaining the services for the benefit of young people living in the two boroughs. It now has five specialist centres across the UK.

CEO Mike Penny explains that “the history of Widehorizons is quite interesting because the building we are in – Margaret McMillan house – is probably the first purpose built outdoor education centre. Margaret McMillan was an educational philanthropist based in a really disadvantaged part of London who worked with deprived children and demonstrated that taking these children outdoors their health improved”.

Like McMillan, Widehorizons believe in the transformational power of the natural environment on health and wellbeing and the advancement of outdoor education, but to address the declining infrastructure and get more children visiting the centres Widehorizons had to investigate funding options, which is when it came across the Futurebuilders Fund. Mike asserts how advantageous this was:

“The Social Investment Business raised our ambitions because at the time my objectives were modest – only to build an office. We had a business plan full with our aspirations for the next five years and it was The Social Investment Business who said they could help us with costing some of our services up so that we could make a major step change in our provision! That valuable investment, push and guidance has led us to where we are today”.

How The Social Investment Business helped

Widehorizons initially received a £15,300 Futurebuilders Fund development grant* to fund the production of a business plan and financial projections and to have its plans fully costed by a quantity surveyor.

Following successful completion of this work, Widehorizons went on to receive a £1,072,000 Futurebuilders full investment. This investment comprised a £1,500,000 loan to refurbish Margaret McMillan House, Wrotham, Kent and the Townsend Centre, Swanage, Dorset; a £114,500 capital grant for business development to refurbish and set up the central office based at the Environmental Curriculum Centre in Eltham; and a £106,500 revenue grant for recruitment and staffing costs over the first 12 months.

CEO Mike Penny outside refurbished McMillan house

Mike explains that the “money from the Futurebuilders Fund was the first major investment for us for thirty years, it was over £1,000,000! It enabled us to turn a dilapidated old wing into a beautiful building with modern facilities that sleeps 60. It has also created two more classrooms – We are extremely happy with McMillan house, it’s fabulous!

Future endeavours at Widehorizons

Mike passionately explained that although Widehorizons has come a long way in increasing its capacity and has evidently expanded its provision, the drive never stops for improving its services. Future plans in the pipeline include fully catering for disabled children whereby installing tailored equipment and bedrooms. Mike details:

“We are looking into catering for disabled children because they rarely get the same experiences as an able bodied child. We are launching a campaign to raise money to adapt and develop our facilities to cater for disabled children so that they can take part just as any other child can in outdoor adventure. We would ideally like to have respite care for children in the weekends also. We are launching an appeal that’s called ‘Aiming even higher for disabled children’, like the Government’s ‘Aiming high’ which, we hope, will be a successful fundraising campaign for the next two years and provide the funds for our vision”.

Included in this vision are escapes for families who have a disabled child. Families like these from disadvantaged areas rarely get a holiday and this initiative would provide adventure skills for all the family and enable children of varying abilities to play side by side.

Widehorizons has a unique influence locally on the role of outdoor education. Many Widehorzon attendees haven’t been to the country or the seaside before so for some even open spaces and outdoor games are novelties. Even the local residents notice the change in visiting youngsters – Wrotham Taxi driver Sue proclaimed that many apprehensive teens arrive at Widhorizons only to return with big infectious smiles on their faces – “what a difference fresh air can make!”

On the 4th of November Widehorizons will be officially opening its new building and welcome anyone who is interested in attending to contact them directly to help the employees celebrate everyone that has helped make possible the provision of quality outdoor learning experiences to the diverse local community.

If you are interested in finding out about Widehorizons Outdoor Educational Trust, feel free to visit its website.