Young people on the Activity Agreement in Leeds have the opportunity to attend a residential at Herd Farm. The residential consists of 3 days of outdoor activities and is usually the first time that the young person has been away from home.

The residential allows young people the opportunity to try out new and exciting activities whilst developing a whole range of core skills.

It takes the young person away from their everyday situations and faces them with interesting challenges and gives them a new perspective.

Bernard Gavins, a Leeds Keyworker tells us about a recent residential:

“After a successful preliminary “get-together” with pop and pizzas at Strawberry Lane our group of apprehensive young people and staff set off on Wednesday afternoon to Herd Farm.

After our induction talk and settling into our rooms we had a good meal and set off to undertake our first activity – Orienteering. 26 letter boards were to be located and recorded around the site. Obviously the boards were well -hidden and located in some pretty inhospitable spots – but eventually the girls team were first to complete the course. By the time we had all finished the course we were all fairly wet- some of the locations were very well –hidden !
Back at base, washed, dried and anxious to see what was next, we embarked on some decision making for the rest of the evening, most of which passed peacefully! Bed time came and all duly went off to their appropriate rooms.

The morning dawned and after breakfast and clearing up, we embarked on the day’s actvities- the Giant Swing and the Zip wire. The Keyworkers were guinea pigs on the Giant Swing – which the young people and staff thought was seriously wicked- despite a staff member ending up with a very swollen sore lip!!
The Zip wire also proved to be slightly troublesome for the males who in their harnesses did feel quite uncomfortable when the zip wire came to the brakes!!
Lunch time came and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. The afternoon had a slightly less arduous start for us all with Archery. Young people and staff were all reasonably successful at this and really enjoyed it.
The real challenge came later with the Assault Course.

Having received our instructions regarding working as a team – together with two buckets of water and a rope which all should keep of throughout the course we set off. In, out, over and under the end was reached with a few hiccups along the way. All were tired, wet and ready for tea!
After a really good roast beef dinner it was decided we would set off towards the Harewood estate and a walk passed” Emmerdale”. With “wellies” on we set off- the sun was out, it was a dry evening, we walked and walked and walked- the young people talked and talked and talked. Eventually we reckoned we had done about 8/9 miles. Eventually we were back at base. After watching a d.v.d. there was no trouble getting all off to bed.

Friday morning dawned, very wet and after breakfast and clearing rooms etc
we were set a couple of team building challenges in the dry.It was decided it should be staff against young people – the result was a draw!!

The time came to leave and all of the young people asked why we couldn’t stay longer.
We left Herd Farm after a very enjoyable, worthwhile stay. All the young people had appreciated the opportunity to take part, and were more than willing to repeat the experience if the opportunity arose again”