Young people are actively encouraged and supported to participate in a range of activities which take account of their race, culture, language, religion, interests and abilities. Witherslack Group Children's Homes strives to integrate the young people in our care into activities and groups within the local community. Young people develop their confidence and self esteem from participation in activities they enjoy, learn how to use local amenities and have opportunity to widen their social experiences by mixing with other young people outside of the home environment.

The purpose of these activities is to provide another basis from which young people who may have been comparatively unsuccessful in the past, can achieve and learn new skills or develop existing ones with a resultant improvement in self-confidence and self-esteem and to create an arena for the development of the social group.

Some of the activities may take the form of a club which runs for a fixed period on a set day and time each week.  This helps to develop a sense of commitment in children and service users. Other pursuits happen spontaneously and may occur  infrequently.

Examples of community based clubs used by our young people includes:

• Youth Club
• Local Football clubs
• Tennis Club
• St John's Ambulance
• Snooker club
• Army Cadets

Some activities will involve young people with minimal staff support and will afford the opportunity for young people to continue and broaden their interests and skills without direct supervision. Promoting personal development on an individual and independent basis.

All supervised and unsupervised activities take into account the safety of young people at all times. Activities which involve substantial or unusual hazards are subject to a written risk assessment prior to approval.

All high-risk activities are supervised by an appropriately qualified adult who holds a nationally recognised qualification in the activity that they are leading.