WWT announces Free School Visits thanks to massive funding response
Some 2.4 million pupils from disadvantaged schools across the UK will now have the opportunity to enjoy a guided learning session at a WWT Wetland Centre on a school trip this year completely free, thanks to a successful Inspiring Generations fundraising appeal.
This morning, head teachers from the 10,500 eligible* schools nationwide will receive an email inviting them to book a free school visit, including a targeted guided learning session of up to two hours, during the academic year 2012/13.
A total of £60,000 has been raised since WWT launched the Inspiring Generations ‘Free School Visits’ fund last summer and sent out a rallying call to UK businesses to help end our children’s disconnection with nature.
WWT was established as an education charity in 1946 and has welcomed more than two million children on school visits to its nine wetland centres across the UK.
Sadly, generation by generation we are spending less and less time with nature. A recent survey found that less than a third of children had been on a country walk in the past year and more than 20% had never visited a farm or climbed a tree: in fact more children are admitted to UK hospitals for injuries sustained falling out of bed that falling out of trees!
Supporting the initiative, David Lindo, the ‘Urban Birder’, said: “I grew up in inner city London and my early interest in wildlife and the outdoors was considered quite unusual amongst the children I grew up with. I wish WWT London Wetland Centre had been around when I was growing up as it would have been a fantastic opportunity for me.
“It is very important to excite children about nature. There are some children who haven’t even seen a cow before, or watched waves crashing on the shore – how can they go through life only seeing these things on television? It is so important to give children the opportunity to go out and see nature first hand. WWT are leaders in this field, and we should all follow their lead.”
Funds have come in from a number of UK businesses and organisations**, including SFIA Education Trust, Cargill, Tullow Oil and the Shears Foundation, plus several generous private donations from members of the public.
Karen Moore, from Tullow Oil, funding disadvantaged children in the capital to visit WWT WWT London Wetland Centre, said: “We are proud to be associated with the Inspiring Generations scheme which will allow so many children from the capital’s schools to come to WWT London and benefit from free environmental learning sessions.”
Lyn Shears from the Shears Foundation, funding disadvantaged children in the North East to visit WWT Washington Wetland Centre, said: "Introducing children who might never have this opportunity to learn more about the natural world and the environment, will have a huge impact on the next generation.”
WWT’s Chief Executive, Martin Spray said: “Nobody is going to protect the natural world unless they understand it and it is a sad fact that the majority of information children get about nature is through the television.
"Studies have shown that children from deprived areas are most likely to gain from the transformative impact of outdoor learning. We are aiming for 2.5 million school children to have visited WWT centres by 2016 to mark our celebration of 70 years of connecting young people with wetlands, wildlife and the environment around us.”
To help WWT meet that target, fundraising for the Inspiring Generations Free School Visits Scheme continues, so for more information or to make a donation, visit www.wwt.org.uk/inspire.
