Children who grow up in homes where domestic abuse is present often experience fear, anxiety and instability. These experiences can affect their sense of safety and sometimes impact the relationship between a child and their non-abusive parent as both navigate the effects of trauma.
At West Mercia Women’s Aid, our Children and Young People’s Team works to support families as they begin to rebuild those relationships and create new, positive memories together.
Recently, we were fortunate to offer some of the families we support a very special opportunity — an outdoor activity day for children and their mums at Biblins Youth Campsite, a beautiful 18-acre natural setting nestled within the Wye Valley and surrounded by ancient woodland.
Eight children and their mums joined us for a day designed to encourage connection, creativity and confidence in the calming environment of the outdoors.
Learning New Skills in Nature
The activities were led by Woodcraft Folk, a co-operative youth movement that empowers young people to take the lead and learn more about the world around them through outdoor adventures and creative activities.
Throughout the day, families explored the woodland while learning a variety of bushcraft skills. The children gathered sticks which they carefully cut and debarked before transforming them into charcoal. They then collected natural materials from the forest floor to build a fire and practised lighting it using a fire steel.
Next came a creative activity: searching the woods for natural clay earth to make their own ochre paint. Using their handmade charcoal and paint, the group created beautiful Stone Age–inspired artwork on wood to take home as a lasting reminder of the day.
The final activity involved making natural wooden-beaded bracelets using the sticks they had gathered earlier. By carefully removing the bark to reveal decorative patterns, the children created unique pieces that reflected both their creativity and the skills they had learned.
Creating Space for Joy and Connection
For many families, the day provided something incredibly valuable: the chance to relax together, away from the pressures and distractions of everyday life.
It was a joy to see children and parents laughing, exploring and working together. Many children said they loved meeting new people and making friends, while parents shared how meaningful it was to create happy memories with their children in such a peaceful setting.
Parents also told us the day reminded them of the importance of spending uninterrupted quality time together and enjoying the simple things — especially without the usual noise, stress and electronic devices that can fill everyday life.
Importantly, every parent who attended said that without this opportunity they would have been unlikely to take part in an activity like this with their child. Financial constraints and limited awareness of how to access similar opportunities were common barriers.
Making Opportunities Possible
This wonderful experience was generously funded by Herefordshire Community Foundation, whose work focuses on building stronger communities across the county. Their support helped make a truly special day possible for the families we work with.
We are incredibly grateful to both the Foundation and the team at Biblins Youth Campsite for providing such a welcoming and inspiring environment.
What the Families Said
“I loved today, it was one of the best days ever!” – Child
“Fantastic day. Leaders were lovely, friendly and patient with the children. Fantastic day had by all – thank you!” – Parent
“Your adventures are amazing!” – Child
“The staff were lovely and great with the children. They were helpful, informative and accommodating. We would love to come again. A big thank you from all of us!” – Parent
More Adventures to Come
Thanks to further support from UK Youth through their Adventures Away From Home programme, we are excited to offer another opportunity during the Easter holidays.
Children and young people aged 10–18 who are past or present clients of West Mercia Women’s Aid are invited to take part in a Bushcraft and Team Challenges Day at Biblins. This session will focus on building confidence and self-esteem, encouraging creativity and self-expression, and giving young people the chance to try new activities while enjoying the benefits of being outdoors.
If you would like to find out more, please contact the team at CYP@wmwa.org.uk