Escapeline
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Thousands of children have been exploited through the practice of County Lines, in which highly organised urban gangs take over provincial drugs markets. Escapeline is a charity committed to the prevention of the criminal and sexual exploitation of young people across South West England.
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We supported this work with vulnerable children in Wiltshire, through targeted education, mentoring, classroom-based workshops, teaching protective strategies and signs to look out for. Escapeline’s youngest referral was aged just 6. ​
Delight​​
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Delight is an arts-based learning charity that works in partnerships with primary schools serving areas of high deprivation to create lasting change for children affected by disadvantage.
Funded by The Four Barrows Foundation a 6 week programme at Cordwalles Junior School, Camberly drew children into a magical world of dance storytelling; building a love of movement and self-expression, strengthening teamwork, and increasing engagement with literacy learning.
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Life Education
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Life Education Wessex & Thames Valley delivers drug and emotional wellbeing education programmes to communicate healthy lifestyle messages and empower children aged 3-11 with the knowledge, skills and self-confidence to make positive healthy decisions and stay safe in schools.
A grant from the Four Barrows Foundation purchased equipment to deliver workshops into Berkshire primary schools in “LifeSpace”, a purpose-built pop-up tent providing an immersive experience for the children. “LifeSpace” uses music and digital technology to explore children’s attitudes, stretch their thinking, role play real-life dilemmas and clarify values and emotions.
SOME OF OUR PROJECTS...
ABC to Read
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Assisting Berkshire Children to Read places trained volunteer reading mentors into Berkshire Schools where they support children who might be living in areas of significant deprivation, or have lost confidence because they’ve fallen behind, or perhaps don’t speak English at home. Their work contributes to improvements in the social and educational inequality that many local children struggle. We have supported ABC to Read in the recruitment, training and support of 23 new volunteers to support 69 children in Berkshire who have difficulty with reading.
To find out more about the work ABC to Read does, or to get involved as a school or volunteer you can visit Assisting Berkshire Children to Read
The Engine Shed​​
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The Engine Shed in Reading is a special interest facility for autistic children and young people. It promotes learning and social skills in a friendly and supportive atmosphere, using their love of trains as an entry point. Our support helped provide regular monthly sessions, days out and a new train layout as well as supporting their ongoing costs.
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To learn more or to volunteer, visit The Engine Shed | Monthly Train Club for Children on the Autistic Spectrum
Eldene Nursery & Primary School
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We supported a Lego Therapy intervention project and after school Club at Eldene School in Swindon. The Club aims to help children with multiple barriers to learning (language deprivation, social, emotional and academic gaps, the aftermath of Covid) by using Lego to encourage them to interact with their peers, build relationships, communicate and solve problems through building. Trained staff lead the classroom and children are given specific roles (engineer, builder, supplier etc.) and rules to follow, helping them to be successful as they build. The skills acquired (social contact, interaction and co-operation, learning to take turns) can be generalised to other groups and classroom-based activities.
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Our grant helped to provide a range of Lego sets and provided training courses for staff.