A BURSARY sponsorship provided annually by Andover lift company Stannah to Icknield School in Andover has provided two days of fun and outdoor challenges at Avon Tyrrell in the New Forest.

Pupils took on challenges including being lifted off the ground with ropes and pulleys – the first step towards climbing.

The 65-acre site provides the perfect spot for UKYouth to provide educational challenges that help all young people reach their potential.

Icknield School is a co-educational school for children with severe learning difficulties aged 3-19 years.

The school provides a bungalow in the community for the further education of the oldest pupils aged from 16-19 years and it is this group of youngsters who benefited from the bursary.

These young people all have considerable challenges in life but together with their excellent teachers and support staff they really enjoy the activities provided by UKYouth at Avon Tyrrell.

The first day of challenges took place in the woodland area and slowly encouraged the youngsters to leave the security of ‘two feet on the ground’ by taking small steps to climbing.

With the aid of ropes and pulleys most of the group achieved beyond everyone’s expectations.

Icknield provides a happy, safe and exciting learning environment for children at the school and from the wider environment.

In this vibrant, friendly school, all the staff and governors work together to provide the best possible learning opportunities for the pupils.

Joan Hofland-Gibbs, leader of FE at Icknield said: “We enjoyed two fabulous days out at Avon Tyrrell and the team returned exhausted but happy and proud of all we achieved.

“These adventures are so valuable for our young people and really do represent a change in confidence for some.

“We all extend a big thank you to Stannah for the opportunity, appreciated by us all.”

Stannah have supported Icknield School over a long association of many years and a spokesman said the firm was pleased to provide the bursary for the young people at Icknield.