About Us

Trail Blazers aims to improve the outcomes of young people who are vulnerable, at risk or have well-being and/or social, emotional, and behavioural needs. Our aim is to support schools and local authorities in ensuring that the young person continues to access an ambitious curriculum and re-engagement into an education setting.

We strive to make a young person ‘whole’ by supporting them to develop the competencies and abilities to help them become a capable young adult and re-engage back into education.

We provide an environment where we deliver learning opportunities with a focus on personal development and teamwork, alongside pathways for young people who wish to achieve core qualifications.

We will work with you, your learner and multi-disciplinary teams to deliver provision that best suits each learner’s needs.

We provide a wrap-around holistic package which includes impact data that we have uniquely devised to measure each learner’s Emotional, Mental Health, Social and Learning whilst undertaking our programme.

This ensures that as a provider you are still able to track and provide impact data for your curriculum needs.

OUR ETHOS

‘Our goal is to provide a rich learning environment in which individuals are encouraged and inspired to grow in confidence, self-esteem and independence through mastery of achievable tasks in an outdoor setting.’

OUR VALUES

Holistic Development
Prioritising the overall well-being, social connection, and environmental awareness alongside academic achievement.

Mental and Physical Health
Promoting activities that improve mental and physical well-being, supporting emotional and social development.

Community and Nature Connection
Strengthening relationships between young people and their local community as well as the broader natural world.

Meet the Team

Ben is a qualified teacher and has 12 years experience working with young children in mainstream secondary and primary schools, including international schools. Ben had been an Assistant Headteacher in an SEMH school for complex young people.

Ben is a Level 2 Angling Coach and is dedicated to using his skills and knowledge to teach young people key skills that will enable them to be successful in their educational setting.

Ben

Grace is a qualified teacher and SENCO. Grace has worked in specialist SEMH schools for 10 years and has 6 years experience in Senior leadership roles including Assistant Headteacher.

A big part of Grace’s career has been supporting Looked After Children using trauma informed approaches. Grace is also a Designated Safeguarding Lead.

As a Therapeutic Forest School practitioner, she is dedicated to utilising outdoor environments to enhance the re-engagement, emotional, and physical well-being of young people.

Grace

As a Level 3 qualified Forest School practitioner and a Level 2 Angling Trust Licensed coach with experience in a variety of mainstream and special school settings, Gavin has spent the last 16 years supporting young people who have struggled to access education in traditional ways.

Working closely with SEMH pupils of both primary and secondary age, he has strived to re-engage the most disengaged pupils by focussing on their holistic development as a priority.

Having taken up angling at a young age, Gavin has experienced first hand the positive impact that fishing and the natural environment has on personal wellbeing, and by pairing this with his passion for outdoor education, Gavin is extremely proud to call the forest his classroom.

Gavin

Colin has 7 years experience of working in a specialist SEMH school as a HLTA. In this role, Colin worked closely with young people with complex needs who face challenges in accessing their education, providing the support and tools they need to thrive.

Colin has over 3 years of experience as a Forest School Assistant Practitioner, and Outdoor Enrichment Lead, and is currently working towards his Level 3 Forest School Leader Award.

Colin is passionate about using the outdoors as a positive tool to implement positive opportunities for young people who need it the most. His experience not only lies in using the outdoor environment to improve the well-being of young people but also in building relationships and self-confidence within these young people.

Beyond his professional work, Colin has been a dedicated youth leader at his local church for over 8 years. In this role, he mentors and leads young people, guiding them through critical stages of their development.

Colin

Simon is a skilled and passionate angler with a natural hunter's instinct. Starting his journey at a young age in the Kentish Stour Valley, he mastered the local gravel pits before setting a British record at Conningbrook, landing the legendary Two Tone at 65lb 14oz. He later achieved the ultimate prize, Colnemere’s Black Mirror, and became the first angler to catch two English 60lb plus carp, including the renowned Chertsey mirror at 60.4lb in 2015.

With his infectious enthusiasm, extensive angling knowledge, and exceptional coaching skills, He will help inspire and support our young anglers at Cottington Lakes, helping them elevate their skills to new heights.

Simon

Tom is a qualified teacher with over 20 years of experience supporting and empowering young people. A versatile outdoor educator, he is a certified Mountain Bike, Archery, and Climbing Instructor. Tom leverages his extensive background and passion for the outdoors to build confidence, resilience, and essential life skills, helping young people thrive both in and outside the classroom.

Tom

Get in touch today!

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