Free Summer holiday Forest Adventures for primary and secondary children eligible for means-tested Free School meals at the Goodwood Education Trust
Goodwood Estate | Press Article
10/06/25
The Goodwood Education Trust, the independent environmental education charity operating on the Goodwood Estate near Chichester, is once again a Provider for the Holiday, Activity and Food (HAF) Programme for summer 2025.
The HAF programme is fully funded by the Department for Education and offers children who are entitled to benefits related free school meals the opportunity to attend participating holiday activity clubs and have a free meal. The programme enables children to take part in engaging and enriching activities which support the development of resilience, character and wellbeing along with their wider educational attainment, and to be safe and not to be socially isolated.
For the third year running, the Trust is offering a programme of free woodland-based activities through the West Sussex school summer holidays for eligible children. There are separate sessions for primary age children and new for this year, sessions for secondary age children too.
Activities on offer may include fire lighting, campfire cooking, den building, a nature trail, woodland crafts, using hand-tools, and possibly meeting the animals on the farm. For secondary children, the activities are age-appropriate, and may include an escape room style challenge, relaxing in a hammock or time chatting with new friends.
Each day includes plenty of snacks and a hot cooked two course lunch, to keep energy levels high.
Catherine Cannon, Trust Manager, said, ‘Time outside in nature is critical for everyone, important for our mental and physical health. We know from feedback from previous years how much children enjoy being in the woods, and that they go home tired, happy and slightly muddy’.
The Goodwood Education Trust is an independent environmental education charity (Charity Commission CIO 1198212). The purpose of the Trust is to inspire a love and understanding of the natural environment and sustainable agriculture. They work to connect children and young people with nature, particularly those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable. The Goodwood Education Trust was established in 1976 by the 10th Duke.
The Trust works with all children and have a particular interest and growing expertise with children and young people who have Special Educational Needs, Social Emotional and Mental Health Needs, who have experienced trauma, who are Young Carers, who are eligible for Free School Meals or who are excluded from mainstream schooling. To reach those with the highest level of need, they have established local partnerships with those who work with disadvantaged children. They have funding available to support schools in areas of disadvantage, offering free farm visits and support with coach travel, which is a significant barrier.
The Trust work broadly across West Sussex and East Hampshire (including Portsmouth and Gosport). They offer three programmes:
Farm Visits for Schools,including free visits for disadvantaged schools
Woodland learning,including weekly Forest School for vulnerable students, including those in Alternative Provision or Special Schools.
Children in the Community, woodland activities, including partnerships with local charities and Forest Adventures through school holidays, particularly for those on low incomes.
The Trust has a purpose-built, accessible, and sustainable Education Centre on the Farm, nestled within 20 acres of semi-ancient woodland dedicated exclusively to educational use. A nature trail and inspirational outdoor learning spaces allow them to welcome groups into the woods.
