Students ‘Go Ape’ for Water Aid (06/11/2008)

Over 120 first and second year Uniformed Services students from The College of West Anglia took part in an Exercise called First Deployment on the 25th and 26th September at Two Mile Bottom camp near Thetford.

The students were dropped off eight miles before with a map and their full kit and had to navigate their own way to the camp. On arrival they had to assemble an improvised shelter and prepare a meal from the rations they’d been allocated and attempt to make a fire.

The following day they had to pack up camp and walk with their kit to Go-Ape in Thetford Forest where they completed the High Ropes course. This valuable teambuilding experience provided an opportunity for the students to work together and raise £1000 for Water Aid, an international charity which enables the world's poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. The money was donated to the charity by Go Ape as the students completed their course.

Programme Manager for Uniformed Services at the college, Lee Mallott said “Our students have aspirations of joining the many parts of the uniformed public services; this exercise gave them a chance to develop self confidence as well as self sufficient skills in a controlled environment. I am delighted that we were also able to support a valuable charity at the same time.”