Local Prince's Trust Teams try out New Activity Centre (April 2009)

Four local Prince's Trust teams have enjoyed and benefited from the challenges at the new Activity Centre in Cannington. The teams from Bridgwater, Taunton, Yeovil and Weston-super-Mare have tried out the low and high rope activities, following their week of work placements throughout Somerset.

In total 31 young people aged 16-25 who are on the Prince's Trust 12 week personal development programme took park in the challenges at Cannington Activity Centre. This was planned as part of their experience, with the focus on building their abilities to communicate well and to overcome the problems faces on the course.

Michelle Owens, Prince's Trust Team Manager said: "I saw this activity as an ideal opportunity for the Prince's Trust Teams to all come back together and work as a team, especially after their week away from each other completing individual work placements."

Several members of the group achieved personal goals; for some this involved complete trust in their team members catching them, when they fell from the Trust Falls Platform. This involved falling backwards from one metre high into the arms of the team below.

Others were challenged with the height and exposure on the High Rope activities. Tim Day, one of the Prince's Trust Team Leaders said: "I was amazed to see my team working so well together; with four of them huddled together at the top of the high All-aboard Platform, 11 metres above the ground, with their team members controlling the safety ropes for those on the platform. At nine weeks into the programme I was proud of how well they were working together compared to the start of their journey in week one!"

All of the teams enjoyed their day spent at Cannington Activity Centre and it will now become a permanent event during week nine of all the Prince's Trust Programmes run from Bridgwater College. It helped bring the team together, worked on communication skills, team working, problem solving and most definitely added some fun to their week!