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Home > Projects > Redesdale Revitalises

For over 20 years, Go Volunteer (the volunteer department of Newcastle University Students Union) has enjoyed a close link with Rupert’s Wood in Otterburn, welcoming thousands of volunteers, children, and vulnerable adults to learn how to care for the natural world. Go Volunteer aims to create a safe and accessible place where children and young people can explore and discover trees, bugs and themselves through play, guided investigation and conservation.

We aim to help to create a fun and educational experience. Rupert’s Wood residentials are planned by student volunteers and Go Volunteer staff alongside the young people wherever possible, ensuring that each visit suits the needs of the children involved. To prepare the wood for residentials there are conservation tasks which need to be done throughout the year, so we are always looking for new volunteers to join the group.

As a result of the project activities over the five years 2018-22:

Total no. events/activities – 75

Total no participants – 870

No. of refugees & asylum seekers supported/who’ve explored Redesdale’s heritage – 126

No. of new groups engaged – 12

No. opportunities for student volunteers – 324 plus 48 staff volunteers

No. of school groups supported & total no pupils – 2 (60)

Other groups supported – 4 youth groups including West End Women and Girls and Kids Kabin supported

No. training events held & no. trainees – 18 (84 trainees)

Go Volunteer works with North East Solidarity and Teaching (NEST), who recently led a trip to Redesdale with their learners.