What we do
Adventure Therapy provides outdoor and adventure-led activities to improve emotional and physical wellbeing. We are focused on a persons' ability to take part, rather than the barriers which may have prevented or made participation difficult in the past.
We support people with mental health conditions, neurodevelopmental disorders, physical disability, life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses and life-changing conditions.
Our activities, which are predominantly outdoors, help people to face personal and physical challenges and strengthen their resilience. Regular sessions improve self-esteem and provide a sense of accomplishment and we help people to develop life skills. In group settings friendships are forged and for families, an opportunity to create special memories.
While outdoor and adventure therapy is not a direct replacement for statutory or clinical mental health care, it can be treated as a complementary approach. And for some, where traditional forms of mental health support have failed, Adventure Therapy can help people to gain a new perspective where we improve, change or help to save lives in times of crisis.
Our team includes qualified outdoor instructors, occupational therapists, psychotherapists and a wonderful team of volunteers who support at activities.
We may collaborate with other services or signpost, always putting our beneficiaries at the centre of all that we do. We use clear communication, obtain consent and adhere to our safeguarding policies.
Through our Professional Referral Partnerships we can provide evaluations following our activity programmes, working together to be part of a network of support, ensuring our participants benefit from multidisciplinary expertise.
Whilst adventure and outdoor (or wilderness) therapy can be challenging on all levels, it is fun to take part and provides a superb level of accomplishment in addition to improving vitality, grit and fortitude.
Who we support
We support children (aged 8+), young people and adults, with a diverse range of activities available, dependent on a persons' age and ability.
Generally, we provide our services through our Professional Referral Partners, but we are flexible in our approach and accept private referrals if required and it is appropriate to do so.
How we support
Following a successful referral to Adventure Therapy, our qualified instructors and support team provide a programme of 6 sessions, working to improve emotional wellbeing and resilience through time spent outdoors in nature and adventure.
Our activities take place in small group settings, often as intimate as 3 - 6 participants but, depending on the type of activity, can be up to 10 - 12. Group settings improve communication, teamwork and help people who are isolated to forge friendships. However, we can discuss the possibility of a 2:1 session (2 members of the Adventure Therapy team to one participant) if it is paramount in supporting the person referred.
While we encourage independence and always consider safeguarding, we work alongside individuals and parents and referring partners or care workers, who can also attend a session to assist if required. This can help to ensure the support needs of the individual are met, while they take part in a positive and fun experience, and learn something new and exciting as their confidence grows.
A qualified and experienced instructor leads the session and in the case of larger groups, two or more. Other members of the Adventure Therapy team are there to assist on a practical and emotional level, coming alongside participants to provide additional support and mentorship.
Praise is given throughout our sessions and particularly when challenges are overcome, a new skill is learnt or one participant has encouraged or helped another.
Our core activities include kayaking, surfing and paddleboarding on water, and bushcraft, archery, horse riding and climbing on land. We offer additional activities as part of our Adventure Academy and Wilderness Project, giving a total of 20, overall.
Further information on our range of outdoor activities can be found on our activities page.
Our services are constantly reviewed and we adapt to the needs of our service users. Therefore, if you feel there is something which may be of benefit to you or a person you would like to refer, which is related to Adventure Therapy but is not currently provided by our charity or another provider, please let us know and we will be happy to explore the options with you.