S.O.L.D. receives Surrey Lieutenancy Certificate of Appreciation

We were delighted to receive this certificate last week and it felt so good to know that all of our hard work during the pandemic was appreciated!

When we had to close in March 2020, we pivoted to help their schools very quickly with support for teachers that were in partially opened schools for keyworker children, and to help them to use their outdoor space as effectively as possible.

We provided lots of free resources that were downloadable on our website, created special newsletters, social media posts, forums where teachers could swap ideas and links to videos of practical sessions that they could deliver.

We also ran four CPD training days for primary school teachers to support them with their increased outdoor education when the schools reopened. Our experienced instructors delivered programmes in the key subjects which could be taught across multiple year groups.

During the first lockdown, we also supported a number of social services teams with their displaced and vulnerable young people.

Our team worked with NHS Seacole Centre at Headley Court – transporting their keyworker staff to and from Epsom Hospital.

They also went into schools to deliver outdoor learning programs and made this COVID safe so it could continue for key worker children. This was deliverable straight to the pupils and also to the teachers to enable them to deliver outdoor learning too.

When our centres were allowed to open again, we provided day visits for Year 6 children who had a very disrupted year, and wanted to come together and do something positive. We provided them with covid-safe outdoor activities that they could really enjoy together.

After the Lockdown, we also had to think of new and safe ways to bring business back and help the local community.

We have always worked with vulnerable young people and, during the pandemic, the need for this support really ramped up. Our instructors and staff went above and beyond to help reach and support the most vulnerable, and we also got involved in Government initiatives to help children on free school meals.

We ran 'Fit and Fed' camps during the Summer holidays in 2020 and 2021 and HAF (The Marcus Rashford initiative – Holiday activities with Food) in 2021. They were a great success and allowed children who wouldn't normally have a summer camp or holiday something to look forward too.