Over the Easter holidays our FCA Midlands team held their Residential Life Skills Weekend at Cannock Chase. It was an amazing weekend full of games, learning, fun and laughter! Our Participation Officer tells us all about their weekend.
Master Chefs in the Making
The weekend kicked off with our young people planning their own meals, sticking to a budget, and shopping for everything they needed! We all came together to write our shopping list for the weekend, and it was down to our young people to follow the shopping list and budgets given to buy all the food for the weekend! Then came the cooking – from chopping veggies, to mastering the best nachos, they did it all! They then had to roll their sleeves up to wash up – everyone learned how to cook and clean like a pro. Gordon Ramsay, watch out.
Furnishing on a Budget and Time Management
Could you furnish a flat with just a small budget? Well, we did! In a fun budgeting activity, everyone worked together to “shop” for furniture and essentials to make a home feel just right. It was a great way to learn about money, choices, and the essentials needed for a home.
We also got them thinking about time management in the future when they have jobs and bills to pay! It was then down to our young people to use their imagination and plan their full week in the future when they have a job, home, bills to pay and appointments to make. Including traffic delays and urgent appointments! The young people used their time management skills and they totally nailed it!
Crate Stacking
Everyone worked in teams to build towers of crates, while the other team climbed and helping each other with ropes and harnesses. We had so many great laughs through this, it does always seem higher when you are the one climbing the crates! It was exciting, sometimes wobbly, but always FUN. We are so proud of all our young people who kept going higher up, even when they thought they couldn’t go any higher! They really showed great teamwork and bravery.
Caving Simulator
We also explored teamwork in a dark cave, crawling and climbing through tunnels, and even played hide-and-seek in the cave and without our torches! The best part was when we all ended up hiding together, thinking there was someone left to find us, when really we were all there together We really did have lots of giggles!
Team Building
We played loads of games that made us think, laugh, and work together:
- Tie-the-knot challenge (without letting go of the rope!)
- Minefield activity
- Walk the ‘River’ with limited recourses
- Trust games
And so much more! Each game helped us bond as a team, solve problems, and support each other.
Evening Fun
When the sun went down, the fun didn’t stop! We watched films with lots of treats, we went on walks, played rounders, tag bulldog, clap and catch and football. All the young people had a good old giggle late into the night (shhh… don’t tell the grown-ups).
Feedback Time – You Said It Best!
At the end, we sat down together and talked about our favourite parts. Everyone loved all the activities and gave some great suggestions for activities that we could put on in the future! Everyone said they enjoyed meeting new people and making friends, this is what the weekend is all about! And guess what? EVERYONE said they loved the weekend. That’s the best feedback we could ever ask for!
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