Birkheads Wild help some of the most vulnerable young people in Gateshead who are struggling to attend school or have been excluded from education. By using the outdoors Birkhead Wild help people to grow in skills and confidence, to think for themselves and become more fulfilled. Their work helps young people to understand themselves better, to feel a sense of belonging, be healthier, have pride in their own identity and to help them to contribute to wider society.

Our donations will support Birkheads Wild in their work to provide Alternative Education for young people who have struggled in school. Many of these young people have faced childhood trauma and are Care Experienced, or have ADHD or Autism.

Our donations will also support Birkheads Wild's Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme, a prestigious programme of leadership and outdoor skills for young people, which has the potential to be life changing for some of the groups who struggle in a classroom and are unlikely to achieve many GSCE's. Their DofE programme is for young people who face multiple barriers to participating in DofE in a school setting. Unlike schools they do not charge families/carers for their young people participating in their programme.

Colleague donations will be matched.

If you’re interested in fundraising or volunteering for Birkheads Wild or if you just want find out more, please contact Heidi Mulvey, Head of Community Engagement.