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Refresh!YOUNG PEOPLE'S CORACLE
BODS is an independent charity that was formed in the late 1980s which runs outdoor activity based projects aimed at young people; with the true value lying in the learning and growth of the youths involved. One such project is the Young People's Coracle, where many skills are learnt that would not be taught in the classroom. It began in early September 2004.
The project aims to carry out a mobile coracle-building scheme for young people, across the eligible LEADER+ Parishes. Employed for this project is a skilled craftsperson that will teach and share knowledge with each group on the processes of how to build the coracle. A coracle is a single-person boat, that is individual to the maker, because its dimensions are taken from the user's own arm span.
Each group is expected to record the coracle-building event through the media of video and photography. This will result in a presentation of each group's project at its conclusion, as part of a community launch.
Not only will they learn the techniques of building a coracle, filming and editing a video documentary, and photography, they will learn other useful skills. These include First Aid, water skills, navigation, and environmental issues based around the waterways they will be using. This project can also be used as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme; and these skills will also form part of the Youth Award folders, for those taking part in it.
There is much time designated to the researching of coracles and their uses, which enables the project to cover the historical, cultural and social issues surrounding them. The research takes place long before the actual building of the coracles, but will be added toward the presentation at the end of the group project.
This project is not entirely centred on young people, but also those who are young at heart. BODS encourage people who would like to help, who may specialise in the outdoors, or crafts, and people who like working in a cross-generation environment, as this also forms a part of the social growth of many of the young people involved.
Dave Davoll
BODS Youth Work Initiatives
P. O. Box 264
Hereford
HR1 9BA
Tel: (01981) 580391
Email: enquiries@bods.info
Website: www.bods.info
