Young people and their families from the Gilford Centre in Carlisle are heading for Hawes End activity centre this Thursday (24 August) for a special family learning day.
The Gilford Centre in Upperby is a pupil referral unit, which caters for pupils who are permanently excluded from school and also provides some short term placements for pupils who continue to attend mainstream school.
A part of the county council's Children's Services, the unit has joined with another branch of the service, Family Learning, to give around 25 young people and their families an opportunity to try raft building, ghyll scrambling and kayaking.
The day gives families a chance to work together on a number of activities which will hopefully encourage parents to learn new ways to support and develop their children.
The Hawes End centre has direct access to Derwentwater and the mountains. The courses are planned by group leaders - in this case from the county council - who work with centre staff to achieve specific results.
Phil Roberts is the county council's education welfare officer based at the Gilford Centre. He said:
"Parents and children sometimes go through tough times together. When a child is excluded from a school it has an impact on the whole family. However, if they can get together to develop new skills and better understanding then relationships can become more secure, which in turn will contribute to a child's return to mainstream education."
Sue Doyle is Cumbria County Council's Family Learning manager. She said:
"Family learning is all about discovering new things together and the activities can be as varied as the families taking part. Children love to see their parents or carers tackling the same things as them - and probably making the same mistakes along the way."
Notes for Editors
The Gilford Centre in one of three pupil referral units run by Cumbria County Council. The unit has specialist teachers and teaching assistants