Why Trewern? What do you get?

Trewern exists to provide a residential experience for young people and to promote experiential learning through a variety of educational experiences, in an environment that contrasts with their home area.

 Our Values

Real Adventure

Trewern is an outdoor centre with a difference! As we say: “The Adventure of a Lifetime“!

We believe in real adventure and engaging our groups with quality activities in the local environments. Each course is bespoke and designed to engage each student with challenge and success. Our location on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park means we have a great range of off-site activities to offer. The activities generally take a full day, to make the most of the opportunities to develop skills, challenge participants and enjoy the natural environment. With a lot of options available and suitable qualified and experienced staff, every activity is tailored to the needs of each group, making for a positive educational experience in the outdoors.

The activities are designed to challenge and provide real experiences in the local environments. All we need is you.

Personal Thrive Development, Health and Wellbeing

All our teaching staff at the centre are trained in the Thrive approach and undertake regular safeguarding training. We endeavour to make the centre a home away from home, where young people can feel comfortable, which we believe allows them to excel. We regularly witness young people make huge leaps in their personal development, driven by increased confidence, a sense of community and interconnectedness, founded on their own resilience and independence.

We encourage schools who use Thrive to work with us by providing action plans for the young people who attend Trewern. A ‘typical’ course has proven to develop young people with an 18-20% increase within their developmental stand after a weeklong course.  Adventure learning interventions can show positive benefits on academic learning. On average, pupils who participate in adventure learning interventions make approximately four additional months’ progress. There is also evidence of an impact on non-cognitive outcomes such as self-confidence.

The impact can be far greater for more vulnerable students which is why we are working with many of our SEMH, SEND and ARP groups creating specific programmes for each cohort.

We provide a wide range of programmes and opportunities to learn and develop in a safe environment. Providing real life learning through outdoor adventures, focusing on emotional resilience, building confidence and independence -skills that will enable us to face all of life’s challenges.

Our programmes offer opportunities to develop social and emotional health for individuals and teams -we use the natural environment for teaching and learning experiences that connect with our senses. The beauty and awe of nature enhances the programmes and provides real life experiences as a base of our learning. We utilise the natural environment and adventurous activities to promote a broader knowledge base whilst empowering young people. We help support the benefits of a healthy lifestyle through active engagement.

Teamwork and Developing New Skills

Our programmes instil the need for teamwork, cooperation and independence skills through routines and essential life experiences. Our activity programmes provide a balance of both hard and soft skills, looking at challenge and risk against outcomes. Being a Thrive Ambassadors Centre, our team are able to individualise the learning opportunities and focus on each person’s developmental strand. In turn this increases engagement with programmes and helps develop hard skills gained through our adventure programmes. We focus on skill acquisition and performance in a safe environment that in turn improves self-efficacy.

Physical and Mental Challenge

Our programmes at Trewern are designed with each group leader to promote both physical and mental health benefits. As fully trained Thrive practitioners we are able to enhance each Adventure programme by focusing each session on the development needs of the group. We also promote the benefits of physical exercise and ensure the level of challenge will extend each individual yet allow for success. These programmes enhance the holistic wellbeing of the young people engaging in our programmes and promote the benefits of physical exercise to improve mental health.

This is a real opportunity for students to explore new areas, connect with new people and environments whilst developing new relationships. Learning about their own capabilities and pushing beyond their personal boundaries. We develop personal resilience and support young people in managing their own risks and expectations.

Social Engagement and Life Skills

Whilst at Trewern we focus on positive engagement through all aspects of the course: as a Thrive Ambassadors Centre our mission is to help children and young people become more emotionally resilient and better placed to engage with life and learning.

Starting with the food we cater for all individual needs, the accommodation is modern warm and welcoming. We provide all the safety and activity equipment to enable real experiences to take place. Each group is supported in experiential learning opportunities, given opportunities to develop positive relationships through modelling and celebrating success. We highlight and model best practice whilst reflecting on young people’s achievements.

All staff at the centre are familiar with the Thrive approach, and undertake regular safeguarding training. We endeavour to make the centre a home away from home, where young people can feel comfortable, which we believe allows them to excel. We regularly witness young people make huge leaps in their personal development, driven by increased confidence, a sense of community and interconnectedness, founded on their own resilience and independence.

Trewern History

Trewern was opened in 1967 as an outdoor pursuits centre for the schools of Barking and is now an educational facility for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

The intervening years have seen many developments which have increased the versatility of the service that we offer. Currently the Centre is open throughout the year and runs courses during the week and at weekends for both school and adult groups.

Built in 1904 the house was originally classified as a medium sized family residence.