Youngsters meet Lakes challenge (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Youngsters meet Lakes challenge

2:09pm Monday 18th September 2006 in Asian Eye By Newsdesk

More than 40 young people from some of the city's most deprived areas are taking part in an arduous Lake District adventure challenge.

Organised by Bradford Youth Service (BYS) and Bradford Outward Bound Association, The Champions Challenge has seen young people aged 13 and older set out on the expedition due to finish at Ullswater tomorrow.

After leaving Eskdale on Monday, participants have travelled with everything they need on their backs by foot, kayak and mountain bike.

At points on the way, they have had their survival and teamwork skills put to the test in leadership challenges.

Organiser Mike Burtoft, a BYS outdoor education worker, said many of the young people taking part were visiting the Lakes for the first time.

He said: "We will be wild camping and travelling by foot and mountain bike for some of the time. They will all be carrying full expedition packs and also travelling by kayak along Ullswater.

"The young people have been through quite a long training programme which has included mountain bike and kayaking sessions and also an overnight stay at Malham Tarn.

"It's all about bringing young people from across Bradford together to learn, play and live together for a week. I think they will find out they have more in common than they have differences.

"One of the main goals for Bradford Youth Service is to work on community cohesion so young people can understand more about themselves and our multicultural city."

The teams will be marked on their ability to work as a team and help each other, their camping skills and other activities with the winners getting the Champions Challenge Trophy.

Seventeen-year-old Bradford College A-level student Humayra Awan is taking part in the expedition as training for a Duke of Edinburgh bronze award.

Humayra, of Wheatlands Drive, Heaton, said: "It will be very challenging. I am really looking forward to the kayaking."

The teams are from youth clubs in Canterbury, Buttershaw, East Bowling, Great Horton, the Bradford Deaf Club and the Bangladeshi Youth Organisation.