The Bendrigg Trust make adventure accessible, working together to overcome barriers and transform lives. They provide residential activity breaks for people of any age or ability at their centre in Cumbria.
The Company grant helped fund the Bendrigg Alternative Scheme which continued to provide meaningful volunteering and rehabilitation opportunities for people leaving custody and individuals considered at risk, in line with the aims outlined in the original funding application. During the grant period, Bendrigg delivered 15 placements for seven individuals, generating 321 hours of volunteering support. Six individuals undertook 11 residential placements linked to the prison system, contributing 308 hours, while one at-risk individual completed four day placements. Although the project faced significant external challenges caused by pressures within the prison and probation system, including early prisoner release schemes and last-minute placement cancellations, the placements delivered remained highly impactful for both participants and the charity.
The quality and outcomes of the programme remained strong despite the lower participant numbers. Wellbeing monitoring using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale showed clear improvements for all participants who completed pre- and post-placement assessments. Many individuals began the programme with low wellbeing scores, including indicators of mild or chronic depression, but all participants recorded medium or high wellbeing scores after their placement. Bendrigg continues to maintain strong relationships with prison and probation partners while reviewing the future direction of the scheme, including a potential increased focus on supporting at-risk individuals and families affected by imprisonment
