Based in its beautiful Ambleside setting, Brathay Hall regularly plays host to groups of young people from around the country, who take part in residential courses.
These courses are designed to promote the development of all types of young people, and tackle the issues experienced by problem youngsters.
But the true extent of the trust’s work goes above and beyond what many people know.
When the charity was first set up, over 60 years ago, the Ambleside base was the heart of Brathay, a place where youngsters could go to gain skills, build their ambitions, and change their lives for the future.
Godfrey Owen, chief executive of the Brathay Trust, said: “We were set up by a businessman called Francis Scott, who originally started working with young men post-war, the idea being that the country needed to increase the number of young people coming through. In many ways, we’ve stayed true to that original ethos, which is about raising the aspirations and raising the contribution of young people, as they make their way into adulthood.”
Today, while the Brathay mission remains the same, the charity has taken its work to new levels. Two years ago, the trust began setting up regional bases across the country, in London, Bradford, Gateshead, Wigan and the West Midlands.
Its workers now go out into communities to work with young people in their everyday settings where they most need the skills and behaviours they learn during stays at the Ambleside centre.
Brathay participation worker Helen Carter said: “I think often, places like this are just thought of as outdoor education centres, when in fact that’s not the full picture.
“What we do is use outdoor activity, as well as creative, artistic and sometimes musical activities, to create a shared experience, something people can then review and analyse their own input into. What we noticed was that, although young people come away and have an amazing and often very powerful experience at residential, the changes that they learn and want to make are often very difficult to sustain when they go home.
“It was noticed that what supported and enabled that success to be maintained was really strong youth work before and after the residential to back up what they learned.”
While the charity is known for working with disadvantaged young people – those struggling in school or employment, with anti-social behaviour problems, or from underprivileged backgrounds – Brathay is now working with all types of young people across the country.
In April last year, the trust won a contract from Cumbria County Council to deliver youth participation work in the county.
As part of this work, Brathay has been given the task of supporting a Youth Opportunity Fund panel, made up entirely of young people, which is given the responsibility of allocating county council money to youth projects in the area.
And in an effort to include more young people in the process of designing projects, applying for funding, and getting involved in decision making, the Brathay Trust has launched “The Big Shout”.
The Big Shout aims to create opportunities for young people to have a voice, be heard, and take more of a role in society.
The scheme is run through a variety of youth open groups and meetings.
In Barrow, The Big Shout youth group is currently making plans for its summer roadshows.
The group has been designing banners and posters to take to local events including the Walney Carnival, to try and persuade their fellow youngsters to get involved with the Brathay project.
Miss Carter said: “It’s all about empowering young people, enabling them to have a positive effect in their community.
“They’re learning lots of fantastic skills about how to protect themselves and what they want, their views and ideas. They’re engaging positively with other people, and thinking about what their role and their responsibility is within the community.”
The youngsters are also tasked with the organisation of an annual youth celebration event held at the Brathay Hall in Ambleside. This year’s event is due to take place on September 19.
The trust hopes that, by giving the young people responsibility for the festival-style event, which caters for over 600 people, they will develop essential skills and confidence that will see them into adulthood.
Andrew Clark, 17, has been involved with Brathay’s work in Barrow for around six years. Last year he was part of the organisation team for the Big Shout.
Andrew, of Marsh Street, Barrow, said: “I’ve gained more confidence to talk to others, many different people, who I wouldn’t normally socialise with.
“It’s kind of amazing, I’ve learned to take risks in life, and many new skills.
“ I believe I can do more now, and I have used that to my advantage. It’s outstanding really.”
Miss Carter said: “It’s brilliant to see the development that’s made by the young people. You can see their confidence growing over time.”
Mr Owen added: “I see elderly people coming to Brathay saying ‘I came to Brathay in 1960, and I remember Brathay had this impact on my life’.
“In 50 years’ time, if some of these young people are coming back and saying, ‘I remember Brathay having this positive impact in my life’, that is what I feel we are looking for.”