Press release

36 young people aged 16-25 from youth centres and community groups across the South West spent this weekend (4-6 March) at Okehampton Youth Hostel on the edge of Dartmoor to celebrate their collective efforts promoting the National Parks to new and younger audiences.  

The weekend was organised by Mosaic, a project led by the Campaign for National Parks, which celebrarates its 75th anniversary this year.  Mosaic aims to engage young people, particularly those from disadvantaged urban backgrounds, to experience National Parks and encourages them to become ‘Champions’ for these special landscapes.  After a successful 18-month project in Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks, that saw over 60 ‘Young Champions’ recruited from Barnstaple, Bideford, Bridgewater, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth and Taunton, this weekend was a chance for everyone to reflect on the impact of the project and share in the achievements of the young people. 

Each young person has had very different motivations for getting involved in Mosaic, but nearly all agreed that being in a National Park allowed them to forget about their worries, even if it was just for a few days.  

With unemployment rising in this age group, and local frontline support services including youth clubs and youth workers being cut, there is increasing pressure on a generation of young people.  Projects like Mosaic make a difference, and give young people an opportunity to develop skills that can be invaluable later on in life.  But more than anything being outdoors in a special place like a National Park offers an important escape from young people’s often chaotic and stressful lives.    

Elliot (16) from Dulverton got involved with Mosaic through his local youth service and has been helping to promote the benefits of National Parks to his friends by giving talks at school.  Elliot loves being on Exmoor, and explains that ‘you don’t have to worry about anything when you’re out there.’   

It’s a sentiment that a number of the young people agree with, particularly those who are facing difficult times looking for employment, living in sheltered accommodation or who have challenging circumstances and responsibilities. 

Caz (22) is from Bideford and is a full-time carer for her grandmother.  When she gets the chance she enjoys spending time getting away from it all in the National Parks.  Caz is currently involved in helping Exmoor National Park Authority to develop a pocket guide that will appeal to young people and undertook an inspection of Dunster visitor centre to see how well it catered for younger visitors.  Her involvement in Mosaic is just one of many volunteering commitments.  For her she feels it’s important to ‘give something back to the community.’  

During the weekend the young people and their youth workers had the chance to try out a range of activities to help them explore Dartmoor. Some opted for mountain biking and pony trekking while others tried out archery or used natural materials to create works of art inspired by the outdoors. In addition everyone took part in a conservation challenge to help support the work of the National Park rangers.  One team rolled up their sleeves and got physical gorse cutting at Meldon Quarry, while another team took up tools to construct 21 dormouse boxes!  

Mosaic Youth Project Officer David Rolls commented: ‘The National Parks rely on volunteer support to help them undertake conservation work, so to see the ‘Young Champions’ react so enthusiastically to the tasks was really encouraging.  Not only are we helping these young people to enjoy the outdoors, but we are helping them to understand the fragility of the National Parks and installing a sense of responsibility in them to look after these landscapes for years to come.’    

Jamie (19) is from Bridgewater and is currently looking for work.  He describes Dartmoor as an ‘amazing place’ and was instrumental in organising the dormouse box-making exercise. Jamie will be helping to co-ordinate a group of friends to install the new habitats at Nutcombe Bottom on Exmoor at the end of March.  

This is the key thing about Mosaic – it’s youth led.  The ‘Young Champions’ decide how they want to get involved and how the project will evolve. The youth workers and project staff simply give them the confidence and support to make their ambitions a reality.     

The weekend also demonstrated the invaluable role that National Parks can play in helping to tackle some of the social problems facing young people today. These landscapes are inspirational places that give young people the opportunity to try new experiences and develop vital skills that can help them cope with the worries and challenges of modern life both now and as they reach adulthood.

For further information contact:

David Rolls (Mosaic Youth Project Officer): 0793 509 9462; david@cnp.org.uk

Nina Arwitz (Mosaic Programme Manager): 020 7924 4077 ext. 227; nina@cnp.org.uk

Notes to Editors

(1) Mosaic is led by the Campaign for National Parks, in partnership with the Youth Hostels Association and the ten National Park Authorities in England.  For more information visit www.mosaicnationalparks.org

(2) The Campaign for National Parks is a national charity that is committed to protecting and promoting all of the National Parks of England and Wales.  The Charity celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2011. Visit www.cnp.org.uk for more information about our latest campaigns and how you can celebrate with us in our anniversary year. 

Location: Dartmoor National Park
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