EYPT

Key Worker Reports

October – November 2008 (Word Document)
September – October 2008 (Word Document)

Latest Activities

Birmingham to Llangollen Cycle Ride: Saturday 21st June

Three of us set out on a 117 mile cycle ride along the canal towpaths – Max Clark, Jordan Clark and myself. Today was the longest day, but on this occasion it was the wettest. We had over 13 hours of non stop rain on our journey.

Our quest started at 9.00am on the canal at Tyburn Road, Erdington and David Hulme was there to wave us off. Our first 50 miles were wet, although enjoyable, as we cycled through the Birmingham area, across the West Midlands and into Shropshire. We were doing around 15 to 20 miles an hour, but all was to change at Market Drayton as the towpaths became hard and our speed dropped.

We were glad to arrive at Nantwich where we were able to join the Llangollen Canal, knowing there was only 46 miles remaining. It was around this time that we were all starting to feel the pain in our backs and legs. Jordan, the 15 year old, was almost crying with the pain. Max looked at me a couple of times as if to say “I can’t go on, shall we give up”.

It was at this moment that I remembered a conversation I had with my children and grandchildren a month ago; my oldest daughter said, “Dad, there is no shame in giving up if it becomes too hard, at least you have given it your best shot”. My youngest daughter and two grandchildren were less supportive, saying “if you give up we will tell all our friends that you bottled it”.

So we carried on down into Whitchurch to a welcomed hot sandwich and cup of tea. Refreshed, we pushed on towards Ellsmere, again, we all felt the pain, every bone in our bodies ached. We had to keep encouraging each other saying, “come on we can do this”, but just before we approached Chirk, events went from bad to worse. The towpath disappeared in front of our very eyes and we were in the middle of nowhere. “What do we do”, I asked myself, “wait for a narrow boat and ask for a lift, go back”?

It was then that I decided to go across some farm land and try and join the canal further on. We were about ten minutes into our cross country walk when we were attacked by three of the biggest Rottweilers I have ever seen, thank goodness there was a farmer on hand to call them off. About half an hour later we joined the canal.

Llangollen was now only miles away – we crossed the viaduct at 9.00pm and cycled into Llangollen. There were hugs all round, we had done it, but there was more bad news to greet us. The driver who was taking us back to Birmingham had twisted his ankle up Horseshoes Pass, consequently I had to drive home. What a day, what a quest.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking everyone who have supported this event to enable the work of Emmanuel Young People’s Trust.

Phil Bodenham (Key Worker)

Earlier Activities

Camping

18-20 June 2007
The Key Youth Worker Phil Bodenham and 2 staff, along with 8 young people aged between 14-18yrs (also known as the ‘Yardley Gang’) went to Brean, Western Super Mare, and took part in various activities including canoeing, cliff hiking and swimming. This enabled the young people to enjoy themselves fully whilst learning discipline and team work.

29 June – 1 July 2007
Eight young people from Smiths Wood aged 14-16yrs went with Phil and 2 staff to Brean and took part in canoeing and cliff walking. The young people were also given the opportunity to see how to explore safely in caves and caverns in the area.

27-30 July 2007
Bala, in North Wales was the venue for 12 young people from Chelmsley Wood, accompanied by the Key Youth Worker and 2 staff, where they went water rafting, tree climbing and learning survival techniques. The tree climbing was a real success, with everyone learning how to identify the best trees to climb.

4-11 August 2007
A total of 3 staff, 5 parents and 8 young people from Sheldon and 6 from Chelmsley Wood and Olton went to Tenby, South Wales. Here the activities included day trips to local events, sailing, beach activities and – of course – some time playing water games!

17-19 August 2007
Three staff and 8 young people from Acocks Green aged 12-15yrs went to Barmouth, North Wales enjoying themselves in various activities including gorge walking and mountain biking.

24-26 August 2007
Ten young people aged 11-14yrs from Smiths Wood and Chelmsley Wood went with three staff to the Bala camp in North Wales, where they enjoyed activities including gorge walking, hill climbing and canoeing.

Day Trips

A series of day trips were set up:

Nottingham – canoeing for 30 young people from Yardley, Fordbridge and The Radleys was enjoyed, with qualified supervision, on the River Trent.

Clent Hills – mountain biking enjoyed on five separate occasions by a total of 42 young people from Acocks Green, Hall Green Lyndon and Sheldon.

Sutton Park – on three separate occasions a total of 32 young people from Yardley and Smiths Wood and the ‘Gospel Gang’ from Gospel Lane took part in activities such as tracking and orienteering.