Meet Our Team of Trustees | The Kingswood Trust

Trustees Supporting The Kingswood Trust

Meet the Trustees

We pride ourselves on a quality experience for everyone. Our team of Trustees are all committed to support The Kingswood Trust who we consider to be invaluable. Here’s a bit about them.

Major David Harris

Major David Harris (BEd Hons, primary curriculum and physical education) Ofsted and Performance Management trained. Qualified in business administration and school performance. Over 20 years’ experience in local government. Outdoor Education advocate. Chair – Co-opted.

Mr Gary Gentle

Current Primary Head Teacher with 25 years of primary teaching and leadership experience with recent outstanding Ofsted Inspection. Service user for over 20 years. Schools Rep.

Jenny Short

Member of the Friends on Kingswood Trust. (BEd) 30 years teaching experience in KS2 and a love of all things outdoors. Community Rep.

Cllr Phillip Page

For Wolverhampton City Council with experience in schools, skills and learning plus community engagement activities and city wide knowledge across Wolverhampton. The Council’s rep on the West Midlands Pension Fund and Chair of the Emma Bussey Trust for 14 years. Retired Trade Union officer. Council Rep.

Rebecca Harley

Qualified ACCA Accountant with over 20 years experience. Experience in Book-keeping, preparing Management Accounts and organising budgets. Mom of 3 with a love of the outdoors. Staff Representative.

Mr Russell Thompson

Chartered Accountant. Experience in supporting the transformation of services from within Councils and large organisations to independent operation. Experience in financial management and law. Secretary – Co-opted.

Mrs Susan Lacey

Current Nursery and Children’s Centre Head Teacher with over 25 years Early Years education experience family learning and parental engagement. Service user for 17 years. Schools Rep.

Mrs Susan Shanks

(BSc Environmental Science) Independent School grounds development and environmental education consultant. Qualified Forest School Leader and member of The Friends of Kingswood Trust. Over 35 years’ experience in school and community project delivery and project management. Community Rep.

10 reasons to choose The Kingswood Trust

1. The Kingswood Trust was awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge in Autumn 2017.

10 reasons to choose The Kingswood Trust

2. We are much more than a school trip… our activities support learning and development for all.

10 reasons to choose The Kingswood Trust

3. Our Charity is fully risk assessed and has an outstanding health and safety record.

10 reasons to choose The Kingswood Trust

4. Our venue is local – to Wolverhampton, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Telford and Wrekin and Birmingham and the Black Country Authorities so there is less travel time and lower transport costs.

10 reasons to choose The Kingswood Trust

5. All Teaching staff have teaching qualifications or L5 Support assistant qualifications and are experienced outdoor educators – 4 staff have a level 3 Forest Leader qualification.

10 reasons to choose The Kingswood Trust

6. Our curriculum enhancement opportunities are carefully planned to meet the needs of schools and groups – learning is memorable, active and fun.

10 reasons to choose The Kingswood Trust

7. We connect people with nature for improved education, health and wellbeing – research backs up this need to combat “Nature Deficit Disorder”.

10 reasons to choose The Kingswood Trust

8. We offer a range of pre-visit support via our teaching staff and house manager, including pre-planning visits, parents presentation and video for school use.

10 reasons to choose The Kingswood Trust

9. We can provide you with testimonials from other schools and groups who choose The Kingswood Trust or check out our evaluation feedback.

10 reasons to choose The Kingswood Trust

10. We offer good value for money – and have a range of offers available and supporting staff come free.

Our Mission

We believe that every young person should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development whatever their age, ability or circumstances. Our mission is to provide high quality outdoor day and residential experiences in a safe environment that will support improved outcomes for children and the wider community.

Be inspired!

We invite you to step outdoors and be inspired by our wildlife habitats and creative sculptures. Journey through the orchard and follow secret pathways into our forest areas. Pause for a while and dip in our ponds, meet our animals or spend time in our fields. Take on a new a challenge in the woodland adventure areas and climb our trees.

We had a very enjoyable day, well organised and professionally run with great staff. There was laughter and nonstop chatter, from start to finish.

- Elizabeth Birch, Cheltenham Ladies College Guild.

Thank you for letting us do all the activities and have fun. I liked doing the peg trail and tree climbing. I want to go again because it was so good.

- Sophie (Aged 6).

The Orb was ideal for all our needs with space for the 15 of us to eat together, perfect for group activities and families. I think we would struggle to beat it on quality and value for money.

- Max Woollard from Cheshire.

Volunteering at The Kingswood Trust makes me feel valued and confident. It was great fun, giving the pets their breakfast and discovering freshly laid eggs in the chicken coop. Thank you for such an amazing opportunity.

- Juliet (Aged 12).

My favourite activities were the rope course, the midnight walk and the air raid shelters. Thank you for letting us stay for a night and meet the animals. You looked after us so well.

- Johnnie (Aged 7).

The Kingswood Trust is a great place to visit and volunteer. Working at the Trust has helped me become more confident and now I am now in full time work

- Stuart Bickerton from Telford.

Thank you for looking after my children at The Kingswood Trust Holiday Club. They have both thoroughly enjoyed their adventures, nature based and fun outdoor activities and arrive home happy and tired, ready for a good night’s sleep.

- Simon Briscoe from Wolverhampton.

The Kingswood Trust charity is a place where there are no limits to learning and no boundaries to the imagination.

- Rachel Wells - Head Teacher and Charity Manager, The Kingswood Trust.

I loved the zipline and feeding the rabbits. My most favourite time was when we ate our roast dinner and then went to the play area. I have been begging Miss Mason to come back soon and I hope we will.

- Rukudzo (Aged 7).

Special Events

Are you looking for a fun activities for the whole family, or something new to do with friends? Check out our events here with opportunities to connect with nature and the great outdoors. Visit our Facebook page now. Here you can find out news and what’s on and book onto our events and activities.

View all our current events

Book The Kingswood Trust or Donate Today!

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The Kingswood Trust

Address and Directions

The Kingswood Trust
Holyhead Road
Kingswood
Wolverhampton
WV7 3AP
Tel: 01902 558132
Email: Kingswood@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Email Head: Rachel.Wells@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Find Us: Download directions to The Kingswood Trust

Opening Times

Monday: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Wednesday: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Weekends: Vary by event

For group bookings and stays contact The Kingswood Trust directly to arrange or call us direct on 01902 558132.

Book Our Events

We hold many fun events all year round. To see our latest events and book your place simply go to our eventbrite page.

Accessibility

The Kingswood Trust are delighted to have achieved top marks for Learning Outside the Classroom, read more about LOtC here.

Assistance Dogs are welcome at The Kingswood Trust.

The Kingswood Trust is wheelchair friendly. All buildings are on one level and the majority of the grounds can be accessed with a wheelchair. Wheelchair accessible toilets are also available.

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