Go Furness

FYP adventures with Walney School

Members of Furness Young Professionals recently hosted an exciting outdoor adventure event with pupils from Walney School.

Mike Hargreaves was one of the organises of the event – here, he explains the days activities. And you can check out some photos from the day by following the link to the right.

“The day was split into two parts consisting of group problem solving and team building-activities activities in the morning followed by an exciting Ghyll Scramble in Church Beck in the afternoon.

“During the group activities we focussed on some specific areas of team working such as communicating clearly, supporting other team members and meeting their individual needs, also a large chunk around trust, what is it? How important is it? And how do we build it? The group from very early in the day formed very naturally and started performing at a high level. The atmosphere was supportive, encouraging and fun, it allowed individual strengths of the group members to shine through. These being bright ideas people, motivators, leaders, communicators, followers, doers and supporters to name but a few roles. This point around different skills was expressed through the idea of each individual being like a different part of a car, all different but equally valid to get the car moving. The FYPers also were fully engaged and were in genuine rapport with the young people.

“After lunch the group were kitted up in wetsuits, buoyancy aids and helmets ready for the Ghyll. The Ghyll acted as a more serious and “real” extension of what we worked on during the morning, real in the sense that there could be consequences if they failed to support each other. The Ghyll consists of plunge pools, jumps, waterfalls and rock climbing. We alternated leaders within the group and had opportunities to feedback to them about what they did well along with a piece of advice. One member of the group Max was short on confidence as a leader but put in a great performance and later won “man of the match” for his leadership efforts in the Ghyll which resulted in a free burger and chips!

“We also had a change to explore in what way the Ghyll was similar to the work environment that the FYPers were familiar with. Themes like help, support and understanding others came up.

“During dinner we gave the FYPers an opportunity to talk about their experiences with FYP, how FYP have supported and/or improved the quality of their lives and what FYP can provide for young and talented people in the area. We also had a look at what the FYPers value about living in the Barrow area and what could be taken as a learning point form the day. Confidence, not being afraid to speak your mind and the importance of building good relationships with friends and in the community.

“I’m pleased to say that the whole group gave the day a vote out of 10, all gave 10 except one who said the water was a bit cold!”

Gary, a member of FYP, had these positive words to say about the day:

“The Gorge Scrambling Activity Day was a really enjoyable experience! As well as the physical enjoyment of jumping into freezing cold plunge pools and scaling rocky waterfalls, it provided a great opportunity for personal development for everyone involved. It proved that regardless of age and experience, that through teamwork, communication and a common desire for improvement, a team of strangers could come together and succeed in overcoming a variety of challenges.

“As a member of Furness Young Professionals, the day provided me with an opportunity to pass on some of my knowledge to the students involved; which was rewarding and will hopefully assist them in their development. The day was organised very well, and a big thank you to Mike, Jules and Alan; who ensured that everything flowed smoothly. Once again, great day out…. look forward to the next event!”

Posted by Phil Powell on 23rd December 2009