How Skern Lodge’s residential experiences improve wellbeing in a post-Covid world

Whilst we are all relieved to get back to some sense of post-Covid normality, “around a third of adults and young people said their mental health has got much worse since March 2020.” (Mind, 2022)

How can we support children post-pandemic?

According to the leading mental health charity, Mind, connecting and communicating are said to be the two most powerful drivers in helping young people (and adults) overcome feelings of loneliness and improve mental health. Sadly “9 in 10 young people (88%) have said that loneliness was made worse during the pandemic”.

As we settle into a post-Covid world, we’re looking at how residential adventures can support young people in re-building their social skills and significantly improve their wellbeing. Fundamentally, we create a safe environment that enables young people to thrive, giving them opportunities to re-connect with friends and themselves.

Three ways Skern Lodge helps improve children’s post-pandemic social skills and wellbeing

‍1) Building social connection

Why is this so important? Through the years, we have thrived as a species by connecting with others. According to PhychCentral, we need human connection with others physically and emotionally to improve our health and overall wellbeing.

By bringing young people together on a residential, we create a nurturing environment for them to bond and reconnect in person. After a day of high-adrenalin activities, encouragement, social interaction and laughter, every individual feels a sense of achievement - whether from participating in an activity or bonding with a friend again. The residential aspect of a trip builds on this, and by day two, groups really come together.  

2) Improving communication

The way we communicate may have changed but our need for an enthusiastic smile or a friendly hug is essential in building rapport and improving social skills.

Skern Lodge residentials offer a relaxed, home-from-home environment whereby young people are greeted with a warm welcome and encouraged to effectively communicate with gentle ice-breakers from the very start. Believe it or not, mobile phones are almost forgotten while youngsters complete assault courses or go powerboating. It’s wonderful to see how much of an impact a residential experience has, it’s almost a full-proof way of improving communication and a sense of team togetherness.

3) Nurturing confidence and self-esteem  

Our adventure activities improve self-esteem by giving young people a chance to believe in themselves and their achievements. Beyond the rush of adrenaline from abseiling down a high tower, the feeling that remains is self-belief: ‘I can do this and I can achieve things’.

Our highly-skilled and supportive activity leaders encourage every individual to set their own goals, based on what it is they would like to achieve and to really go for it. Their encouragement has a positive influence even on those who choose not to take part in a particular activity; which we completely respect and support at Skern Lodge. It’s more about the willingness to try something new or difficult that makes the biggest difference. Our residentials offer a nurturing and thoroughly enjoyable environment where young people are surrounded by positivity throughout their stay. “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” (Author, Neale Donald Walsch). Our adventures create the chance for young people to step outside of their comfort zones and gain confidence.

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