A team of Sandwell Council staff are taking on a 240km cycling and paddleboarding challenge in aid of incredible children and young people who care for a loved one.
Dan Jackson and the Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre team will set out on their adventure next week (Monday 1 September) from the hills of Snowdonia on a journey to the Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Smethwick.
Dan is a senior tutor at the centre in Wales – one of Sandwell Council’s four residential education centres that have been used by Sandwell children for almost 100 years.
He’ll be making the journey, supported by his colleagues along the way, starting with a 70km cycle and over 170km of paddleboarding along the river and canal network in just four days to raise money for Sandwell Young Carers.
The “SUP to Sandwell” challenge (SUP stands for Stand-Up Paddleboarding) is aimed at supporting young carers, raising awareness of the physical and mental health benefits of outdoor activities and residential centres, and publicising the benefits of bringing new activities like stand-up paddleboarding and surfing to Sandwell.
Dan and the team will mark the end of the challenge by delivering special stand-up paddleboard sessions to children from local schools at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre on Friday (5 September).
Sandwell Young Carers is a registered charity which supports more than 500 children and young people in the borough each year whose health, education and social lives are affected as a result of caring for a dependent family member.
Dan said: “At Plas Gwynant we often teach resilience in the face of challenge. The ability to keep going when you’ve just about had enough.
“The young carers I’ve met over the years have always struck me as incredible examples of human resilience, and I hope our own journey will raise much needed funds to support these extraordinary young people and awareness of the benefits of outdoor learning”.
Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Councillor Jalal Uddin, said: “In Sandwell, we’re unique in having four incredible education centres located outside the borough where children have fantastic adventures and enjoy the outdoors and creative arts.
“Our centres provide wonderful opportunities for around 14,000 young people every year, nurturing creativity, self-esteem and pride – which helps support their learning and happiness and gives them the very best start in life.
“Young carers are one of the particular groups who benefit from these residential centres, and I’m thrilled that Dan and the team are taking on the challenge to help raise funds for such a good cause.”
And Sandwell schoolchildren are also getting on board – with three schools taking part in sponsored events to support Dan and Sandwell Young Carers.
Pupils at Grove Vale Primary School in Great Barr will take part in a sponsored swim, children at Grace Mary Primary in Oldbury will be fundraising with a non-uniform day, and pupils at Tameside Primary in Wednesbury are organising a sponsored walk.
Children from The Westminster School will also be cheering Dan on outside Sandwell Council’s Malthouse Outdoor Activity Centre – another of the council’s facilities for young people – in Tipton as he arrives in Sandwell to complete his challenge on Thursday (4 September) afternoon.