STUDENTS, ex-students, parents and staff of Chulmleigh Community College have set up a new charity called Sea Moor Explore (SME).

Sea Moor Explore representative Laura Fraser-Smith, explained that the charity is an exciting new organisation which will offer fun and adventurous outdoor activities in our beautiful countryside, be that walking, cycling, climbing, coasteering or expeditions.

She said: “We have set up this club to provide wonderful and inspiring opportunities for teenagers, following the success of Ten Tors and Duke of Edinburgh at Chulmleigh.

“Participation in moorland and mountain expeditions has unleashed an eagerness for more adventures and more fun.

“Subsequently, last summer, students and parents organised a 50-mile sponsored bike ride that finished at Saunton Sands beach in order to raise money for the school Ten Tors and DofE fund to improve the opportunity for future students.

“This day was a fantastic mix of cycling and beach, so why stop there? With the support of Chulmleigh Community College, a passionate bunch of past and present students, parents and staff have decided not to stop!”

Laura added: “Whilst fervour for adventure is tremendous, opportunities are few and far between even though North Devon and the rest of the UK offer an abundance of thrilling places to explore.

“We want to provide young people with the chance to take part in adventurous activities in the great outdoors, to inspire them to undertake escapades of their own and to promote and encourage personal development through engagement in these adventures.”

Laura said that the charity has many ideas which include monthly trips to, for example, a climbing wall, beach, woodland and moor to climb, surf, walk and cycle.

Evening meetings, she suggested, could be for learning key skills, planning activities, and being inspired by the adventures of others.

She continued: “These meetings will initially be for students of secondary school and college age, but we will be working closely with local primary schools as the club grows.

“As well as evening meetings and planned activities, we are training a Ten Tors 55-mile team. We would like to start offering Gold DofE to those 16 and over and in the coming year, we hope to train youngsters to take part in The Exmoor Challenge and Abbot’s Way walks.”

A charity launch evening, open to all secondary school students, will take place at Chulmleigh Youth Centre, between 6.30pm and 8pm on Thursday, January 25.

For further details, like the Sea Moor Explore “Facebook” page or email Tracey at: [email protected] .

Alan Quick