About Forest School SNPT

Forest School Swansea Neath Port Talbot was set up in 2001 as a charity and company limited by guarantee aiming to provide Forest School opportunities for children and young people across the whole of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. Our aims are to raise self esteem and self confidence and raise awareness and appreciation of the natural environment.

We now have 7 part-time staff, a team of 8 Leaders and Assistants employed on a sessional basis and a pool of volunteers:

Who We Are

 

Awi Frances - Director

The Director of Forest School Swansea Neath Port Talbot, Awi successfully combines her business acumen and mathematics education background with her passion for nature and play. 

"My background is in education, training, playwork and living in the wild outdoors. I trained as a Forest School Leader in 2000, one of the first group of leaders to qualify in Wales. I had the vision that every child in Swansea Neath Port Talbot should have the opportunity to have at least one day of magical memories of discovery and play in the woods as I did as a child. Ten years on, and a great team of leaders and thousands of children later, I am still inspired by the potential of this project to bring about positive change for children and their families."

 

Karen Jones - Team Leader

 

With a first degree in Environmental Education and a PGCE in Secondary Education, Karen brings a woodland management and science background to her role as team leader.  She has been a Forest School Leader for eight years and a Forest School team leader for 3 years. Her job involves organising and delivering long term projects with Early Years, play schemes, taster days, insets and delivering Forest School Leader training at all levels. "What inspires me to do this job is the joy in seeing the children I have worked with grow in confidence as they develop in so many ways. My work gives children the opportunity to have the same freedom and exploration I had in my childhood, which seems rare these days."

 

Angie Rekers - Power - Team Leader

 

An SNPT team leader, Angie holds a BA (hons) in English and a teaching certificate in secondary language arts.  She trained as a Forest School leader in 2004 and completed an MSc (distinction) in Environmental Education for Sustainability.  Additionally, Angie has developed her delivery of ecoliteracy skills and outdoor play by training with Joseph Cornell of the Sharing Nature Foundation, Steve Van Matre of the Institute for Earth Education, and Gordon McLellan of Creeping Toad.  "Forest School is the ideal opportunity to combine nature awareness and self- awareness by linking learning and development with the creativity and freedom of playing in the woods."

 

Pixie Taylor - Forest School Leader

"I have been a Forest School leader since 2002 and have been fortunate to be part of Forest School SNPT's inspiring and nurturing team ever since. A lot of my childhood was spent playing outdoors and having all sorts of adventures in wooded and wild places and I feel passionately that is vital for us to enable and encourage children today to connect with the natural environment.

In my twenties I lived outdoors at Greenham Common for 4 years where I learned many survival skills and developed my love of nature even further. One of my favourite things is and always will be listening to a crackling fire under the trees, hot chocolate in hand."

             

                Caz Wood - Forest School Leader

 

Caz Wood has been working with Forest School SNPT since 2005.  She has lead sessions with a variety of learners, including early years children, secondary school students, young people and more recently, young people with special needs.  Caz is a qualified Youth Worker, and is committed to providing outdoor experiences where people of all ages are free to be themselves and to have fun in nature. "I grew up in South Wales but also was lucky enough to live and experience the tropical forests of Venezuela and podocarp/broadleaf forests of New Zealand. Making tree houses/dens and exploring the environment's flora and fauna with family/friends and alone(!)

These experiences fuelled my passion to develop and share this environmental connection.

 

Amy Humphreys - Project Support Assistant

                            

Amy is the Project Support Officer, who ensures the administration of the projects and training runs smoothly. She holds a BA (Hons) in Media and Visual Culture and enjoys the diversity of her role.  Despite being office based, she has a great connection with all the Forest School Leaders and shares their passion in delivering successful Forest School;  she gets out into the woods as often as possible to help on Forest School sessions.

Volunteers

Volunteers. About 50 people have done our volunteer training. Some volunteers come out to Forest School sessions and support staff on a regular weekly basis and others for occasional days now and then. To find out more about becoming a volunteer visit our volunteering section.

Members

Membership is open to any individuals and community groups. Members are entitled to attend and vote at the AGM, usually held in the autumn. Members will receive an annual update and are entitled to discounts on some training courses. Membership fees are £5 individuals, £10 for voluntary organisations, £25 for schools and statuatory organisations. New members are always welcome, for information on how to become a member please Contact Us.

Management Committee

The Management Committee meets every two months to oversee the running of the whole project. There are currently 8 members who are also Directors of the company plus some advisors and observers from client groups and partners, giving us support and ensuring our users have a voice in the management of the project. Deb Hill is the current Chair of Forest School SNPT.

CRB Checks

All staff and volunteers working with our clients have undergone a Criminal Records Bureau check.

Annual Report

If you would like a copy of the most recent Annual Report please Contact Us.

Who funds and supports us in 2008

Environment Wales, Four Acre Trust, Social Risk Fund, Awards for All Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, Gower Sustainable Development Fund, Gower Society, C&C Swansea Nature Conservation and Education Depts, SCVS, NPTCVS, Dulverton Charitable Trust, The Millenium Stadium Charitable Trust, City and County of Swansea Compact.

Who funds and supports us in 2009

Environment Wales, Four Acre Trust, Big Lottery Breathing Spaces, C&C Swansea Play Care Fund, CCW, Oakdale Trust, Tidy Towns, C&C Swansea Nature Conservation and Education Depts, SCVS, NPTCVS, Forestry Commission, Welsh Wildlife Trust, Communities First Trust Fund.