GROUP RESIDENTIALS
Scouts and Guides, Girls’ and Boys’ Brigade, youth groups, faith, sport, music and community groups all enjoy single group occupancy, a warm welcome, supportive environment, and memorable shared experiences at Sandwell’s centres. Whether we're delivering a full activity programme or you are leading your own experience, it's an ideal opportunity to develop and apply a range of skills, attitudes and values in an inspirational residential setting.
We offer tailor-made programmes, self-programmed "venue hire", and also the chance to add elements of our provision to support your aims.
Our programmes develop a wide range of skills, confidence, personal and social skills; bonding and creating lasting memories through outdoor, creative, and residential activities. Our full range of creative and expressive arts, and outdoor adventure is available.
So come to an inspirational location and have the place to yourselves; enjoy and share your own special space; focus on your group’s priorities, and let us help you to get the most from it.
Every centre provides:
A warm welcome and a comfortable base in beautiful surroundings
Sole occupancy for groups
High safety standards
Good food
Instruction and tuition from experienced, enthusiastic professionals with great people qualities as well as technical skills.
Activities differ between centres - you can read more about activities at "Our Centres".
DAY VISITS
Join us to create memorable days that meet your aims - PSHE, curriculum enrichment, science, literacy, or maths for example. You bring us a topic and we'll bring it to life!
Often, day visits are used to support smooth transition between phases, to achieve spefic units of work in georgraphy or PE for example, or to promote positive mental health and wellbeing,
RESIDENTIALS
We focus on the importance of the whole residential experience. A visit to one of our centres is about more than the activities that take place; it's about a warm welcome, great food, a strong focus on outcomes, developing positive relationships and prosocial experiences, and creating memories that last a lifetime.
They are small, welcoming places in incredible locations - and you'll usually have the place to yourself, to focus on your own experience.
All centres hold the Learning Outside the Classoom Quality Badge, which means you can be assured that a residential visit can be fully integrated with school curriculum and ethos, inclusive, designed to meet pupils' specific learning needs and planned so that learning can be embedded and reinforced back at school.
Each of our 4 centres offers different activities, from creative and expressive arts at Ingestre Hall, to outdoor adventure in a variety of settings including forests, mountains, rivers and lakes. Tell us about your group and we'll help guide you toward an experience that will best suit
VENUE HIRE
All 4 venues are perfect for rehersal or revision retreats. You'll have sole occupancy to really focus on the learning, and we can lead some sessions for you if you'd like to punctuate revision with activities.
We have wifi throughout, screens, projectors, classrooms / multi-use rooms of various sizes, and we can cater the whole thing for you too if you'd like.
Example revision weekend
A catered revision weekend, with some activities provided by us is available from £85pp* Friday to Sunday at one of our outdoor centres; we can send you a specific price and share some timetables that have worked in the past.
An untutored rehersal weekend at Ingestre Hall is available from £100pp.*
* minimum group numbers apply
You know your group best, and we are always ready to tailor visits to suit the needs of the group we are working with. We've lots of tried & tested programmes ready to go too.
Our programmes can nurture:
independence & self management
creativity and resourcefulness
improved relationships
mental health & wellbeing
confidence in facing challenges
communication and leadership
resilience and a positive outlook.
You can read more about activities on each centre's page
Ideas
Challenge and motivate your group to do something different and special: go on an adventure in the outdoors or in your creative minds!
Develop a group or community theme or priority through a shared creative arts project – we can facilitate this.
Take on an environmental project at one of our outdoor centres: discover, explore, conserve, and share the outdoor environment through the John Muir Award
Give your group respite, reward, a break – make and share special times, celebrate together.
Support group members’ well-being by using Sandwell's "Feelgood 6".
Immerse your group in the arts, and gain an award - the Arts Discover Award is offered at Ingestre Hall.
Devise your own programme using our centre as a base.
Tell us what you want your group to get from the experience, and we’ll either help you to plan a programme.
You can explore the value of an overnight experience in our Research & Learning section.
“High qualiy & great value”
Fully tutored, all inclusive prices start from:
£12pp for a day visit
£97pp for 2 nights / 3 days
£184pp for 4 nights
Prices are subsidised for Sandwell residents. If your group is from outside of Sandwell just get in touch and we'll send you a proposal.
A: Absolutely. In fact, we think it enhances the experience as you'll be able to focus on your own group, your own values, and your own experience.
We do ask for a minimum booking number to have exclusive use. It's:
Edgmond Hall - 36 min / 60 max
Frank Chapman Centre - 36 min / 60 max
Ingestre Hall - 50 min / 90 max
Plas Gwynant - 40 min / 54 max
This may be reviewed in line with social distancing guidance.
A: If your group is smaller than the minmum residential booking number, there are few things that might help:
1. Talk to us - we'll always be flexible where we can.
2. We have a range of accommodation options including 12-bed cottages, and 40 Glamping Pods at the Frank Chapman Centre.
A: The price is all inclusive. A "tutored" residential includes:
All food, accommodation and bedding
Any transport needed during your course
All specialist equipment, from waterproofs or art materials, digital cameras, rucksacks, boots etc
Free preview visit for group leaders
24 hour duty support at the centre
Full day programme and facilitated evenings
1 free member of staff per activity group
You just need to arrange your transport to & from the centre, and any travel insurance that you may want to take out.
You CAN also hire the venues and self-cater at times by agreement.
A: Each centre has a different feel, different set of activities, different environments, and offer consistently brilliant experiences!
Have a look around the centre overview to get a feel for them and the activities on offer, and then do get in touch to tell us a bit about your hopes for a visit and we'll let you know which would be the best fit.
