Ok, so it was a month ago already, and the fact I’ve only just found time to blog about it is testament to the action-packed summer I – and the rest of the Skills and Employability team – have been having. But TCV’s very first Young Carers residential, featuring a fantastic group of young people from East Renfrewshire Carers service, has been an undoubted highlight so far. Anthony has already provided a summary of the residential and how it came about (here), and I can confirm, unlikely though this may seem, that the “Scottish sunshine” was indeed “scorching”. We were even forced to have a water fight to cool down!
The photo above shows the literal and metaphorical high-point. A steep path up through the plantations, pursued by midges and hindered by the aforementioned scorching heat, took us above the treeline to this most scenic of lunch spots. Out across the village of Stathyre, which from our hidden woodland retreat, several miles down a narrow, twisting forestry road, had still felt surprisingly distant. Southwards down Loch Lubnaig towards Callander, and eastwards to the shapely peaks of Ben Vorlich and Stuc a’Chroinn.
Aside from that, I’ve continued delivering the Employability Award with two groups from CSGNT at Palacerigg Country Park, attended two more days of Forest School training, passed my MIDAS (minibus driving qualification), helped out with a very successful Bioblitz at Rouken Glen Park, and generally spent a considerable portion of summer 2014 out-of-doors! I’m certainly not complaining…