Bradwell youth activity group was set up and started in April 2017, several months after the Bradwell youth club was closed. This new group was established to give the youth of Bradwell an opportunity to explore challenging outdoor activities, rather than the usual sort of youth group which often meets in an indoor location and is not necessarily focussed on group achievement.
Loraine Sowerby and Martin Salvage, two members of Bradwell Parish Council at the time decided to set up this new group and to run it. Martin has worked with outdoor activities in the past and knows many people who work in the outdoor activity centres around Derbyshire. Edale YHA were approached, as they are one of the local activity centres, with Nick Willis the centre manager an old friend of Martin. One of the instructors, a young man called Robin Heath, decided to take on the B.Y.A.G. and organise the various activities. Initial funding was provided using some residual funds remaining after dissolution of the original youth club, with additional funding from donations by local businesses.
The activities are varied, including Caving, Night Hiking, Abseiling, Orienteering, Weaselling, Archery, Climbing , Canoeing, Stream scramble, High Ropes and Bush crafts. The group also enjoyed two full day outings – one being the full round trip in Giants cave and a trip canoeing down the river Derwent from Darley Dale to Matlock. The original group, comprising mostly young girls, have moved on in life and have included on their CV their experiences with the youth group as life changing experiences. They have found many of the experiences helped them gain life skills in challenging their fears and working as a team, supporting and encouraging each other to grow and develop more confidence. The big challenges and team building exercises provided by their group experience would not have been available anywhere else.
The Bradwell Youth Activity Group had to cease activities during the global Covid pandemic as the activity centres were unable to take groups out. But as soon as it was possible the group restarted, under the guidance of Martin Salvage and Alison Taylor, and with the help of Whitehall Activity Centre thanks to manager, Robin Heath and their instructors. The group now have a full complement of young teenagers who are enjoying all the fun provided by the different challenging activities.
The group is always looking for funding for this key initiative. Funding contributions during the time the group has been operating has been provided by Local Businesses such as Breedon, Bradda Dads, Eden Tree campsite, Carbolite, Bradwell chip shop, The Bakehouse, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Derbyshire County County Council, Bradwell Co-Op and several fund raising activities created by the youth group themselves.
If you feel you would like to join the group you can contact the parish council via the parish clerk (parishclerk@bradda.org).