Beyond the classroom, the hands-on outdoor projects transforming young lives

“They need to have experience but they can’t get it because there’s nothing available for them to have experience in. They’re unloved; they’re not valued. What we want to do is to create environments where they can come and where they’re incredibly valued and where they feel themselves really worth something.”

Last July, the charity welcomed its first group of young people to a farm near Hereford. During their week-long stay, they built barns, worked with animals, made compost, and cooked meals; all useful, practical skills. But it was the softer skills that were most profound, says Feilden. “They learn how to make friends without going online,” she says. “They never stop, if you go in their rooms at the end of the day you’ll see seven people all talking to each other.”

**This article originally appeared in our Essential Economics magazine. Find out how you can support Positive News and get a free issue here**