The National Trusts Summer Challenge

The aim of the National Trust’s Summer Challenge (SC) is to bring together and train young people from across the West Midlands and get them excited and interested in history and heritage. The SC programme helps young people build their confidence and ensure they deliver a guided tour to friends, family and NT members. The other longer term aim is to ensure some of the young people take up volunteer opportunities with The NT
The duration of the SC is 5 days Monday – Friday. Over the 5 days the following workshops and activities are delivered:

• Icebreakers / Teambuilding / Interactive fun games
• How to become a tour guide / Time management / Script writing / Story telling / Dealing with difficult situations / Health & safety
• Event planning
• Marketing
• Heritage workshops
• Community Involvement
• Volunteering

During the week, the young people are trained through a condensed version of the Back to Backs’ tour guiding course, supported by the property’s volunteers who act as mentors.
They young people work in smaller teams on activities designed to develop new skills, build confidence and get them excited about heritage.
At the end of the week the young people are put in at the deep end. They have to create flyers and market the event and then deliver the tours.
The maximum number that the National Trust can take each year is 15 young people aged 16 – 20.
During the week they have already started to build the first stage relationship foundation. On the final day they run a mini volunteer taster day and this is to encourage the young people to take up volunteer. Each year about 8 or more young peoples who would not traditionally volunteer with the NT taking up voluntary work with the NT.
Contact Mukith Miah, Education & Off-site Volunteer Development Manager, National Trust, Birmingham Back to Backs, 55 – 63 Hurst Street, Birmingham B5 4TE
Telephone: 0121 622 2442 Ext 1,  email: [email protected], or Click Here to visit their website.

Posted on 19th June 2015