Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden, has returned to Bowles Rocks, an outdoor activity centre near Eridge, to learn more about the post-pandemic recovery of the outdoor education sector.
Bowles Rocks is a charity established in 1964 to support young people in learning about the outdoors. Every year, the centre works with thousands of children, young people and adults from all backgrounds, introducing them to healthy outdoor activities such as skiing, kayaking, rock climbing, orienteering and camping, and helping them develop vital interpersonal skills enhancing self-confidence and mental wellbeing.
Nusrat has been collaborating closely with the centre throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and has repeatedly raised the need to protect this important element of children’s education in parliamentary debates, and with the Secretary of State. As a result, a grant was awarded to Bowles Rocks in November 2020, as part of the Government’s £750 million support package.
Nusrat Ghani said: “We are extremely lucky to have several fantastic outdoor activity centres in Wealden. It was a pleasure to return to Bowles Rocks and see it fully booked, with so many groups of children from the area and from across the country learning new skills. Outdoor experiences offered by the centre provide a vital contribution to the education, wellbeing and personal development of young individuals as well as spark lifelong interest in healthy outdoor activities and I am pleased that Bowles Rocks is thriving again and offering these valuable learning and development opportunities.”
