OutLET Play Resources: WILD Lesmahagow Programme

OutLET Play Resources was established in 2016 to provide forest school, nature clubs and outdoor play programmes for children aged 0-16, focusing on improving health and wellbeing, building resilience and supporting confidence development. Staff concentrate on young people who have faced challenges in life, have chaotic family backgrounds and struggle in school.

Need and Development

The project was established to address needs identified in the Lesmahagow Community Action Plan, which showed higher than average unemployment rates, particularly amongst 16-24 year olds. The initiative emerged from piloting work begun in 2016 and partnership with local schools, particularly Lesmahagow High School's Inclusion Base, which highlighted the need to support children with additional support needs for whom mainstream education was insufficient.

As children reached the end of primary school age, parents and participants expressed a strong appetite for a programme allowing secondary school-age children to continue their outdoor learning. 

This feedback kick-started the Youth Foresters initiative, running for approximately five years. The Young Leaders programme was subsequently developed in response to young people expressing interest in volunteering and developing employability skills. As funding from Spirit of Lanarkshire Wind Energy Cooperative Community Benefit Fund was ending, OutLET applied to the ORIT Fund to ensure the project continued.

Funding

OutLET applied through the Fund and received £20,506.29 from the ORIT Cumberhead Fund to support staffing and delivery costs, enabling the programme to proceed when other funding sources were uncertain.

The ORIT Cumberhead Community Fund supports community projects that enhance the economic, social or environmental sustainability of, and benefit those living in, the Community Council areas of Coalburn and Lesmahagow.  

The Project

The WILD Lesmahagow programme ran from February to November 2025 at Gateside Woodland and comprised three interconnected components:

• Wild Time Community Play provided weekly after-school outdoor playgroup sessions for up to 15 primary-aged children, predominantly those with autism and ADHD. Participants explored nature, built friendships and developed social skills in a supportive environment. The pressure-free setting allowed children to develop their own interests without mandated participation.
• Young people accessed tree climbing, fire building, campfire cooking, tool use, den building, pond dipping, whittling, woodland crafting and rope skills.

Families reported seeing their children become more positive, happy and empowered, developing social and practical skills away from screens.

Youth Foresters offered weekly after-school sessions for up to 15 older children (P7 to age 18), with over 80% having additional support needs. The programme focused on woodland management, foraging, outdoor and conservation skills, building confidence whilst contributing to environmental awareness.

The group developed into a close-knit support network where young people could openly discuss challenges such as difficult relationships and bullying. 

Three individuals gained their Forest and Outdoor Learning Award (FOLA) Level 3 qualification, inspiring others to work towards this in 2026. Participants also volunteered at Wild Time sessions, building communication, organisation and leadership skills, with hours contributing towards Duke of Edinburgh awards.

Young Leaders enabled five Youth Foresters to volunteer on Wild Time sessions under supervision, whilst pursuing qualifications including FOLA, Dynamic Youth Awards and Youth Achievement Awards.

The programme was delivered by three Play Rangers, who were trained Forest School Leaders with outdoor first aid qualifications and trauma-informed practice training, augmented by teenage volunteers from the Young Leaders programme.

Outcomes

The programme provided 35 children and young people, particularly those with additional support needs, with opportunities to develop confidence, practical skills and a sense of belonging. 

Young Leaders gained recognised qualifications and experience that could lead to employment.

A particular success was supporting three young people through the transition from primary to secondary school. All three faced significant challenges, so OutLET provided an extended transition period. The young people attended both Wild Time and Youth Foresters throughout the year, maintaining access to a safe space while exploring something new. This supported them emotionally and socially during significant change, with one young person successfully progressing to become a Young Leader and achieving her FOLA qualification.

The programme fostered social cohesion and promoted environmental conservation. Staff noted that young people developed a deeper connection to the woodland environment across seasons, adopting practices such as 'leave no trace' and demonstrating respect for nature. This helped create a local community of young caretakers for nearby green spaces, with children developing lasting relationships with nature and pride in local places.

The grant also enabled staff time to begin building a local network of outdoor businesses, aiming to create a consortium to recognise the value of FOLA qualification and create employment pathways for young people in local organisations and the green economy.

Hannah

Hannah has attended Wild Time for several years. A Play Ranger introduced her to finger knitting during an outdoor craft activity. Given time, encouragement, and yarn, Hannah quickly became absorbed. She says Wild Time makes her "feel happy and free" and that she can "just be myself."

Since learning finger knitting, Hannah has taught herself new techniques, begun designing hats, and developed confidence to share her skills. She taught her mum, who then used the skill in her own Forest School practice. Recently, Hannah has been selling her handmade hats at Christmas markets. 

Her mum reflected:

"It's been amazing to watch her become so passionate about this."

Alfie

Alfie began attending Wild Time just before turning 11. He has autism, ADHD and dyspraxia. Though highly sociable, he finds social cues difficult and becomes quickly overwhelmed in groups. Because of this, Alfie has been unable to access most out-of-school activities. His dyspraxia makes sports coordination challenging, and structured settings increase his stress.

At school, Alfie masks extensively to fit in. This leaves him exhausted and contributes to anxiety, reduced self-esteem, and mental health challenges. As he gets older, he often finds himself socially isolated.

Wild Time offers Alfie a contrasting environment, flexible, non-judgmental, and child-led. His mum says he has been able to be authentically himself without pressure to mask. Alfie has particularly thrived in nature-based activities, developing a strong interest in whittling, requiring sustained concentration and fine motor skills, things he struggles with elsewhere.

His mum tells us: 

"Wild Time has become a vital part of his routine, he is always so excited to go. I know he is accepted there and can truly be himself. This sense of belonging has had such a positive impact on his self-esteem."

Continuation

The programme will continue into 2026, with funding secured from National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All. OutLET plans to develop the Young Leaders programme further and build relationships with this funding partner, aiming to secure sustainable multi-year funding for a youth employability programme.

Final Thoughts

The ORIT Fund has been instrumental in ensuring this positive programme could continue supporting young people when many services are being reduced. This investment acted as a crucial funding bridge, providing stability during financial uncertainty and enabling the organisation to grow. By maintaining continuity, OutLET strengthened relationships with participants, families and partners, supporting their successful National Lottery application. 

This demonstrates how strategic short-term investment can support organisational development and long-term sustainability, ensuring continuity of support for young people in Lesmahagow while fostering a generation of nature advocates within the community.

Read more about the ORIT Cumberhead Community Fund.