GETTING CHILDREN LEARNING ABOUT THE COUNTRYSIDE
The Countryside Foundation for Education celebrated 25 years of providing unrivalled access to our countryside for many thousands of children, parents and teachers, with a re-launch at the House of Commons on Wednesday, 14th March.
In order to position itself for the next 25 years of its work the charity launched its new name, ‘Countryside Learning’ at an event hosted by Nicholas Soames, Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex.
Mr Soames said; “This is an important landmark for this wonderful charity and I was very grateful to Richard Benyon MP, Minister for Natural Environment & Fisheries, for agreeing to be our guest speaker.”
Speaking at the event Mr Benyon said; “It is difficult to underestimate the importance of this work. The countryside is a magnificent classroom and the Countryside Learning provides children with un-repeatable chances to see and understand a living, working landscape. I really do commend all those involved with the work that they do and I am delighted to be present at their transformation launch.”
Countryside Learning is a key player in some of the most successful sector partnerships of the last few years; such as the year of food and farming and growing schools. Its way of working is very much in keeping with the agenda of the times in which we live; best possible value for money for donors, best quality of delivery for its beneficiaries and close sector working to avoid duplication.
Gary Richardson, Chief Executive of Countryside Learning said; “By delivering an unforgettable experience for many schools in some of the most economically challenged parts of the country and bringing real social and cultural integration in the process, this is a charity who has not only moved with the times, but in many ways has anticipated the changes needed to deal with the issues we are facing today. Countryside Learning is the only organisation who for the last 10 years has brought the countryside directly to our capital city running a major event for 10,000 children, parents and teachers and the general public.
“In keeping with the ethos of the charity, not one penny of its funds has been spent on this rebrand with the advertising agency Touch doing all of this work for free with Savills offering further support for new resources.”
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