Welcome to Climbing Minds

For the last 3 years, iDID has been working in Northampton supporting young people with additional needs and mental health issues through adventure sport programmes. Our aim works to use sports such as rock climbing, to increase well-being, confidence, and self-esteem. Our team have identified that climbing has the most significant impact on the lives of our members and as a result, we are exploring whether a climbing intervention programme could be used as prevention, or support for intervention, with youth mental health services in the county.

The Lottery have funded 4 x 6 weeks programmes to research this. It is a very exciting time as research shows that integrating a positivity, fun, and risk in a safe environment, can have significant impact on young people’s mental health. Your role here is vital as a facilitator, mentor, and peer. Our volunteers are there to help create a positive environment that allows the young person to focus on enjoying themselves and engaging in the activity. It is important to remember that we are not mental health professionals, as such, you are not expected to have a full breadth of knowledge of mental health issues.

Your role is to be a friendly face providing a listening ear, if needed. For lots of young people, their lives are surrounded by professional assessments, labels, and clinical environments. Our aim is to enable young people to get some relief from that in a positive and safe environment. Don’t worry if you haven’t climbed before, we’ll teach you how! In this pack, you’ll see some information about what you need to bring with you and what the sessions will involve.

The course will last for 6 weeks and on the last week, participants will be graduating from Climbing Minds having gained skills in rock climbing. Susanne Rees iDID Adventure CIC 3 What do I need to bring? As the sessions will involve rock climbing, you’ll need to wear loose comfortable clothing. Climbing equipment will be provided for you and you will need to wear a helmet. What time do I need to be there? Each session will be held for 2 hours on a Tuesday evening from 5-7pm. Please arrive 15-20 minutes earlier if you can so we can be prepared for the participants arrival.

Directions: Pinnacle Climbing Centre From Northampton Town Centre: Follow the Towcester Road alongside Carlsberg past the B&Q superstore and go over the bridge over the river and the canal. At the mini roundabout by the petrol station take a right. Follow Main Road around a sharp right hand bend and then a sharp left hand bend; go about 800 yds. and when you see green railings on the right, turn right into the short road which will take you past Keystone Roofing on your right. Follow the road to the end then turn right alongside the canal and you will see The Pinnacle straight in front of you in grey and red cladding.

Climbing Minds Co-ordinator details Co-ordinator: Susanne (Suzi) Rees SMS: 07902 147 863 Email: s.rees@ididadventure.co.uk Facebook: IDID Northamptonshire Twitter: @iDIDNorthamptonshire 

Safeguarding Policy iDID Adventure CIC is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and protecting them from abuse when they are engaged in services organised and provided by, or on behalf of, iDID Adventure. iDID Adventure CIC will ensure through its recruitment and selection policy that suitable people are selected for working with children and vulnerable adults. iDID Adventure Ltd will take any concern made by an employee, volunteer or contracted service provider, child or vulnerable adult seriously and sensitively. Referrals made by an employee, volunteer or contracted service provider cannot be anonymous and should be made in the knowledge that, during the course of enquiries, the agency that made that referral will be made clear as individuals may be required as a prosecution witness. iDID Adventure CIC will not tolerate harassment of any employee, volunteer, contractor, child or vulnerable adult who raise concerns of abuse. iDID Adventure CIC will work in cooperation with local Safeguarding Adults and Local Safeguarding Children Board Inter-agency procedures and will respond positively to any recommendations regarding the improvement of its safeguarding policies and procedures.