Our CYP Service Visits Space2Be Lochaber
The CYP (Children and Young Person) service users and their support workers were lucky enough to be invited to Space2Be Lochaber. The project is run by Space2Be in collaboration with Innovation Challenge.
The day started with the CYP workers picking up the children and young people.
We were met at the farm by Elspeth, Katy, a friendly dog and two curious cats. As the group didn’t know each other, Elspeth and Katy got the CYP to introduce themselves by writing up their names and three words that summed up their favourite colour, food and hobby on a blackboard.
After the human introductions, we were then introduced to the animals on the farm. The CYP spent time learning about the animals, as well as getting the opportunity to feed and cuddle them. The animals included donkeys, goats, sheep, calves and horses. The CYP hand-fed carrots to the donkeys and goats. They also got the opportunity to take turns bottle-feeding the calves. This involved the CYP holding on very tightly to the bottle, as one calf was very hungry and jolted the bottle whilst it drank. It was interesting to see which animals and children were drawn to each other.
Once all the animals had been fed, we went to a fenced-off, wilder woodland area. The campfire was smouldering away and ready for us to begin making our sausage rolls for lunch. The CYP made their own sausage rolls by wrapping puff pastry around a hot dog and toasting it over the open fire. We all sat around the campfire cooking lunch. It was a relaxing experience cooking by the fire, and there was a lovely sound of CYP laughing and nattering away.
For pudding, we made hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows. The CYP got the opportunity to try to light a fire that would heat the water in the Kelly Kettle, using a flint and wool. Starting the fire was a lot harder than it looked and took a team effort to get it started. The CYP displayed resilience and determination to get the fire lit. Whilst some CYP looked after the fire and made hot chocolates, the other CYP roasted marshmallows.
Space2Be Lochaber is a special place. Elspeth and Katy, working alongside the animals and the outdoors, have created a very nurturing, safe, easy-going and supportive environment. The support workers noted how the CYP seemed to relax, laugh and just be themselves. For some of the CYP, this was the first time they had experienced feeding animals and cooking outdoors. For some, it may have also been an opportunity for them to realise that they are not alone in what they are experiencing or have experienced at home in their families.
The overall theme of the day was “connection”. Being at the farm allowed the CYP to connect with themselves, others, animals and the environment.
