A Breath of Fresh Air

How the RSPB is inspiring Merton's young people to R.E.S.P.E.C.T. the natural world

What happens when you take someone from the city and immerse them in endless nature? This summer, 25 young people from Merton had the chance to find out.

Young People partake in environmental conservation through bracken bashing

Nestled within a 1000-acre nature reserve in the New Forest National Park is Cameron's Cottage. Established in memory of Cameron Bespolka, who died aged just 16, the Cottage carries forward the legacy of a young naturalist who loved birds and spent much of his time exploring the outdoors - helping other young people discover the natural world that meant so much to him.

This summer, Young Merton partnered with the RSPB to open its doors to three of our member organisations - Ashdon Jazz Academy, Raising Stars Football Club CIC and Jigsaw4U. Across two residentials, 25 young people and eight staff spent seven nights at the Cottage. For almost two-thirds of the young people, it was their first experience away from home.

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Cameron Bespolka Trust, the whole experience was completely free for the participating organisations. Accommodation, transport, food, activities and staff wages were all covered - removing one of the biggest barriers to accessing opportunities like this.

Young People get to know one another through team bonding activities

This wasn't your typical residential.

There were no zip wires, kayaks or adrenaline-fuelled activities. Instead, the RSPB invited young people to slow down and pay attention. They built dens, learned bushcraft, went bracken bashing, pond dipped, trapped and identified species, and ventured out on night-time bat walks through the forest. There was mud. There were late nights. There may have even been a few tick bites! But beneath all of that was something very intentional: the chance to spend time immersed in nature, to notice things that might normally go unnoticed and to develop a different relationship with the world around them.

For young people who have grown up in a busy urban environment, that change of pace can be surprisingly powerful.

“The residential gave our young people the opportunity to step away from the pressures of everyday life. To build new friendships, develop confidence, and connect with nature in a meaningful way... seeing them support one another, embrace new challenges, and create lasting memories reminded us of the incredible impact that shared experiences can have on young people's wellbeing.” - Louise Elliot, Jigsaw4U

Young People get to know one another through team bonding activities

The impact wasn't just about what happened in the forest. Participating organisations reported significant improvements in their young people's relationship building, communication, teamwork and leadership, alongside increased staff confidence, organisational confidence, reputation and partnership working.

The young people also brought a rich diversity of experiences with them. 59% were from Global Majority backgrounds, 21% were neurodiverse and/or had SEND, 2 had experienced school exclusion, 1 had experience of the care system and 1 had experience of the criminal justice system.

Young people came from six wards across Merton, with 42% coming from Pollards Hill - one of the most deprived wards in the borough.

Young People enjoy eating dinner cooked in the outdoor kitchen.

But we didn't want the experience to end when the minibus headed back to Merton.

Each group was supported to co-design a social action project, inspired by both what they had experienced in the New Forest and the needs they see in their own communities. Already, ideas range from mini eco-fairs to sponsored fun runs supporting local environmental organisations. Young Merton is now working with the participating organisations to help turn those ideas into reality.

And that's important. Because we believe the longer-term legacy of these residentials won't be found at Cameron's Cottage. It will be found back in Merton - in the projects young people develop, the people they inspire and the changes they make in their own communities.

“The impact of this residential on our young people has been truly significant. It has given them memories that will last a lifetime, helped them develop a greater understanding of wildlife and how they can play a role in protecting it… it has increased their confidence, broadened their knowledge, and created connections that will continue long after the trip has ended.” - Gabriel Nipah, Raising Stars Football Club CIC

The success of the programme relied on multiple levels of partnership including Young Merton, the RSPB, Cameron Bespolka Trust, YPF Trust and members Ashdon Jazz Academy, Raising Stars CIC and Jigsaw4U.

Partnership in action

There is something particularly powerful about the different layers of intention behind this programme: Cameron's legacy inspiring the Trust; the Trust enabling the RSPB to create extraordinary experiences using its expertise in nature, conservation and outdoor learning; Young Merton connecting the opportunity to our members who in turn connected those opportunities to young people who might otherwise never experience them; and then those young people taking what they've learned back into their communities.

We are incredibly grateful to the Trust for making the opportunity possible, and to the RSPB staff team and volunteers for sharing their expertise, time and care with our young people.

For Young Merton, this is exactly what systems change looks like in practice. No single organisation could create opportunities like these alone. They exist because charities, businesses, funders, public services and community organisations each contribute what they do best. Together, they create something far greater than the sum of their parts.

Young People build dens using fallen branches

As Young Merton grows, we want to help create many more partnerships like this across the borough. Whether you're an employer able to offer work experience, a business looking to invest in your local community, a funder wanting to back collaboration, or an organisation with expertise to share, you have a role to play. Every partnership has the potential to open a door, build confidence and change the trajectory of a young person's life.

It's a simple but powerful model: remove the barriers, invest in potential, and create a pathway into opportunity.

All photographs in this article were taken by young people from participating organisations, using film cameras.