Spirit of adventure keeps young people on straight and narrow

My Big Adventure provides therapeutic adventures for young people who are disengaged (excluded or in danger of exclusion from school) or in the process of re-integration into school.

The organisation benefited from Worcestershire County Council’s Changing Futures Fund which has received 219 applications from a range of voluntary and community groups. Changing Futures was set up as part of the county council’s commitment to supporting the voluntary and community sector (VCS) to develop strong, sustainable organisations.

The council set aside a special fund of £750,000 in 2012 to deliver a range of targeted support packages. The types of support packages include areas like human resources, financial planning, marketing, start-up advice and new ways of working.

Stephan Natynczuk, founder of My Big Adventure, said: “We provide adventure days with a solution-focused approach to counselling and mentoring, blended with education outdoors - a powerful combination. We are very successful at helping people to do the best for themselves in life.

“I'm a great fan of the Changing Futures Fund. I really value its support and it has made an enormous difference to my thinking. It has been transformational."

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member for localism and communities, said: “We set up the Changing Futures Fund to enable the voluntary sector to gain new skills for the benefit of their whole community. With so many applications being received and granted - over 200 of them - this scheme has proved itself to be very successful and worthwhile.

“My Big Adventure is an excellent example of an inspirational project that is making a real difference to young people’s lives.”

For more information about the Changing Futures Fund visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/voluntary and then click on ‘Changing Futures Fund’ or call Suzy James, VCS Co-ordinator on 01905 728650 or e-mail cff@worcestershire.gov.uk.