Canopy & Campfires is a therapeutic, nature-based service that helps young people build confidence, resilience, and self-esteem through regular, relationship-led sessions in a woodland setting. We work with those experiencing anxiety, disconnection, emotional overwhelm, or complex life circumstances, offering time, trust, and care in a calm, human-centred space.

Free from assessments, clinical language, and behavioural targets, sessions blend practical skills such as firelighting, tool use, cooking, and shelter-building with relational support and gentle reflection. This is not formal therapy, but it is deeply therapeutic, creating opportunities for young people to reconnect with themselves, with others, and with the natural world at their own pace.

Canopy & Campfires is for young people who need something different from busy classrooms, formal systems, or performance-driven environments. Many are disengaged, dysregulated, withdrawn, or struggling to feel safe in settings that don’t meet their needs. Some have diagnoses such as autism or ADHD; others live with sensory sensitivities, anxiety, school-based trauma, or low self-esteem. We also support young people who are: Struggling with attendance or refusing school looked after, on child protection or child in need plans / Home educated and in need of structure or relational support / Showing signs of emotional overwhelm, shutdown or distress in formal settings / Navigating social communication differences or struggling to connect with peers and adults. Some mask their difficulties and appear quiet or self-contained, while others are not yet in crisis but need a calm space to steady themselves.

What they share is a need for attuned, consistent, low-pressure support in a setting where they are not judged, labelled, or “fixed.” Many have faced exclusion, instability, or breakdown in previous placements and benefit from a space built on trust and acceptance. This work is not about diagnosis — it is about connection. We meet young people as they are, not as a problem to solve, but as someone worth investing in.

Young people engage with our sessions in many ways — some dive in hands-on, others watch quietly or take time to warm up. We don’t expect a particular style of participation, meeting each young person where they are. Sessions are consistent, gently structured, and relationally led, with a clear rhythm but no pressure to perform. Practical tasks are offered as invitations, not requirements, and can be active or as simple as sitting by the fire and sharing space — both are equally valuable.

We hold steady boundaries to keep everyone physically and emotionally safe, introducing these through modelling, calm communication, and clear relational support. Challenges are met with curiosity rather than control. Over time, as the setting feels familiar and the rhythm becomes predictable, many young people begin to engage more freely, helped by the experience of being accepted without pressure.

Our sessions combine practical, therapeutic, and relational approaches tailored to each individual, always underpinned by our core aim: building confidence, resilience, and self-esteem in young people who may not thrive in conventional settings. Purposeful activities such as lighting fires, preparing food, or using tools, are central to engagement, communication, and growth, creating opportunities to: experience success and agency, practise focus, patience, and problem-solving, engage in low-pressure conversation, develop self-regulation and responsibility, build a sense of usefulness and belonging.

Alongside these tasks, we offer therapeutic mentoring, emotional regulation support, relational development, boundary work, and guided challenge. Sessions may include structured activities, unstructured exploration, or quiet reflection, depending on the young person’s needs. We adapt our approach to different communication styles, sensory preferences and emotional capacities, using the natural environment as a safe and responsive backdrop for meaningful progress.

Our sessions combine practical, therapeutic, and relational approaches tailored to each individual, always underpinned by our core aim: building confidence, resilience, and self-esteem in young people who may not thrive in conventional settings. Purposeful activities such as lighting fires, preparing food, or using tools are central to engagement, communication, and growth, creating opportunities to: experience success and agency, practise focus, patience, and problem-solving, engage in low-pressure conversation, develop self-regulation and responsibility, build a sense of usefulness and belonging.

Many attendees are autistic, ADHD, or have other additional needs, and we adapt to different communication styles, sensory preferences, and emotional capacities. For those who have struggled in mainstream education due to anxiety, disengagement, social pressure, or unmet needs, our setting offers a consistent and compassionate alternative where trust, routine, and confidence can be rebuilt. Above all, we provide a calm and emotionally safe environment where young people feel seen, supported, and able to grow at their own pace, supported by skilled practitioners, immersive nature, and a non-pressured structure.

All of our sessions take place outdoors in a calm, contained woodland setting between Rochdale and Bury, chosen specifically for therapeutic work. . The site includes a central fire shelter, seating area, cooking set-up, and natural features such as open spaces, riverside paths, tree cover, and quiet corners. We use the woodland not just as a backdrop but as a co-participant, helping reduce pressure, regulate sensory systems, and support emotional pacing in ways indoor settings often cannot. The site stays consistent throughout the year, with preparation for seasonal changes and sessions running in most weather conditions, supported by shelter, safety planning, and appropriate kit.

Facilities include nearby toilets, handwashing points, and indoor access for emergencies. There are no buildings, formal classrooms, or institutional feel — just a safe outdoor space where young people can breathe, move, notice, and be. The environment is familiar, practical, and safe, offering a steady place to return to each week while inviting exploration, connection, and stillness as needed.

Referrals can be made by schools, local authorities, social care teams, or families directly. Some begin with a formal request, others with a phone call or informal conversation to explore whether our offer might be a good fit. If it feels appropriate to proceed, we ask for a referral form so we can gather key information on current needs, background, and hopes for the placement before planning next steps. We review each referral carefully, knowing not every young person will be suited to the setting, and we are always honest if we feel we are not the right service.

Where we do proceed, we may suggest an initial short-term programme or offer a more flexible starting point, depending on readiness and need. At every stage, the process is clear, relational, and grounded in care — never about ticking boxes, but about beginning to hold the young person in mind.

Canopy & Campfires is not a classroom or a clinical space. It is structured and purposeful without feeling formal or pressured, with no uniforms, behaviour points, assessments, or therapy rooms. The work happens outdoors in a calm woodland setting, through practical tasks and consistent relationships. By removing rigid systems and reducing social pressure, we create space for regulation, autonomy, and trust to grow.

We still hold clear structure and boundaries, but in a calm, relational way. Participation is encouraged but never forced, allowing young people to take part at a pace that feels manageable. This approach reduces anxiety, builds tolerance for challenge, and creates conditions for authentic engagement, particularly for those who have struggled in conventional settings or become withdrawn or defensive. Our difference is not just where we work, but how we work, consistently, professionally, and with the emotional awareness needed for meaningful change.

We are listed within the Rochdale Alternative Provision Network, which allows local schools and services to refer to us as part of their AP options. However, Canopy & Campfires is not a statutory Alternative Provision and does not deliver curriculum-based teaching or meet the formal requirements for AP registration. Our sessions are not classroom-based, timetabled lessons, and we do not assess against national standards. Instead, we offer therapeutic, relational and practical programmes focused on emotional and developmental needs rather than academic targets.

This means our work complements, rather than replaces, formal education. Some young people attend alongside school, college or tutoring, while others are out of education entirely and use our setting as a stabilising and supportive space. Referring to us as part of a wider AP package can be highly effective, but it’s important to understand that our role is different: we provide a calm, contained, nature-based environment where young people can re-engage with learning in its broadest sense, rebuild trust in adults, and strengthen the skills and self-belief that help them take their next steps.

We understand that not every young person feels confident or comfortable in outdoor settings at first. Some are reluctant to get muddy, others dislike certain textures, smells, weather conditions, or insects, and for many it is simply unfamiliar. We approach these responses with curiosity and respect, never with pressure. No one is forced to take part in anything they are not ready for, and we support each young person to find their own level of comfort and engagement, often starting with small, manageable steps.

Over time, most develop confidence through repetition, familiarity, and relational safety, often beginning to associate the outdoors with calm, freedom, and positive connection. Our site is well-contained, carefully chosen, and equipped to support a wide range of sensory needs. We use the environment flexibly and build relationships first, so challenges can be navigated together rather than avoided. Many young people who were initially hesitant come to value the setting deeply, with the outdoors becoming part of the work and part of the change.

Yes. We offer a person-centred counselling service as an additional option, delivered by a fully qualified and experienced practitioner. This is available when appropriate and can be integrated into the broader programme if the young person is ready. Our approach is grounded in the same principles as our wider work, focusing on relational safety, emotional pacing, and respect for the young person's autonomy. Sessions often take place outdoors, using the natural environment as a calming backdrop in what we call 'campfire counselling', a gentle and informal model that removes the pressure of clinical settings and allows conversation to unfold naturally.

Some young people engage in counselling from early on, while others take time to build trust before any therapeutic work is introduced. Counselling is always invitational, never pushed, and we recognise that timing, readiness, and relationship are key to its success.

We take a relational, observational, and narrative-based approach to tracking progress. Rather than relying on rigid targets or formal assessments, we pay close attention to how each young person is engaging over time, emotionally, socially, practically, and relationally. We notice what they gravitate towards, how they respond to challenge, how they manage frustration or stillness, and how their confidence shows up or does not. We listen for shifts in language, tone, energy, and self-awareness, and we observe patterns as well as moments.

We understand that progress is not always linear and often happens in quiet, non-obvious ways. We remain attuned to these subtleties and make time to reflect, document, and communicate them carefully, both for our own practice and for the professionals involved.

Each young person works with a consistent lead practitioner throughout their placement, helping to build trust and continuity. Depending on the programme, the lead may be supported by one or two other team members, all of whom are DBS-checked and experienced in working with young people in outdoor or therapeutic environments. We follow a robust safeguarding policy in line with current statutory guidance, with clear procedures for reporting concerns, managing disclosures, and responding to emerging needs. The lead practitioner also serves as the designated safeguarding lead for the service.

Although we are not a clinical or statutory service, safeguarding is always a priority. We liaise with schools, parents, and local services where appropriate to ensure support is joined up and consistent. All practitioners receive regular supervision, and we are committed to ongoing training and reflective development to maintain high standards of care.

Spending time in nature always involves a level of risk, and we believe that is part of what makes it meaningful. Our role is to hold that risk safely and thoughtfully, allowing young people to explore, stretch, and grow within supported boundaries. We follow best practice in outdoor risk management, with every site and activity underpinned by robust risk assessments, clear protocols, and dynamic checks on the day. Practical tasks such as firelighting, tool use, or shelter building are introduced gradually, modelled carefully, and always supervised at the young person’s pace. Risk remains a factor, and while we manage and mitigate it, we acknowledge that nature cannot be entirely controlled. Weather changes, mud is slippery, and stings happen — and through this, young people learn not just to stay safe, but to adapt, respond, and make sound decisions in the moment.

In our sessions, risk often becomes a metaphor for life. Conversations explore what is within our control, how to manage uncertainty, how to weigh up what is worth trying, and what helps us feel ready or holds us back. These are not just background conditions but opportunities for reflection and growth. By engaging with risk in this supported way, young people develop the very qualities we aim to build: confidence, resilience, and self-esteem.

Many of our attendees are autistic, ADHD, or have other neurodivergent traits or diagnoses. We work carefully to create a setting that supports regulation, sensory safety, and respectful communication. Neurodivergence is not a behaviour problem to be solved, but a different way of processing, relating, and existing in the world. We do not expect eye contact, constant talking, or prescribed forms of social interaction. Instead, we meet each young person as they are and adapt our approach accordingly.

Our support includes clear and consistent routines, space for non-verbal communication, quiet zones or sensory-friendly adjustments, and a reduction in social pressure or performance-based expectations. We respond to shutdown, masking, or overwhelm with patience and understanding, avoiding token systems, forced participation, or compliance-based strategies. The aim is not to change who a young person is, but to help them feel more comfortable, confident, and connected in their own way.

We work outdoors year-round, adapting to most weather conditions. Our woodland site includes a central fire shelter that offers protection from rain, wind, and cold, and we prepare for seasonal changes with appropriate kit and safety planning. In light rain or cold weather, the fire and shelter provide warmth and comfort; in hot or icy conditions, we adjust activities to ensure hydration, shade, and safety. Sessions are only postponed in extreme or unsafe conditions such as high winds, lightning, or severe storms.

We see working with the seasons and facing the elements as an important part of building resilience and confidence. With the right support, these moments often become some of the most meaningful and memorable experiences for young people, helping them develop adaptability, resourcefulness, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

Every young person’s journey is different, but we consistently see growth in three key areas: confidence, resilience, and self-esteem. This can show up as arriving more calmly, engaging more freely, showing pride in a completed task, trying something new without fear of failure, speaking with greater clarity, reflecting on thoughts and feelings, taking more care over tools and space, managing frustration more constructively, or trusting an adult enough to ask for help or share something personal.

Some of these changes are subtle, others more visible. Progress is rarely linear, and the most meaningful shifts often emerge quietly through steady, relational work. Many young people tell us they gain a sense of peace, safety, usefulness, and belonging — a foundation that helps them feel more able to be themselves, and from there, everything else can begin to grow.

While there are similarities in using outdoor settings and practical tasks, Canopy & Campfires is not a forest school. We draw on core forest school principles such as child-led learning, nature immersion and supported risk-taking, but combine these with therapeutic, relational and mentoring-based approaches shaped around individual needs. The key differences are: Our focus is on emotional development, not curriculum-linked learning / Our work is 1:1 or in very small groups, not class-based / Our sessions are often quieter, slower and more reflective / We support more complex needs and vulnerabilities / We offer consistent, long-term relational work / We are outcome-aware, but not outcome-driven

Forest school and therapeutic nature work share common ground, but they are not the same. Our offer is designed for young people who may struggle in larger groups, need high relational attunement, or benefit from a more contained and personalised approach.

Only that this work takes time, and that it is most effective when there is shared understanding and trust between everyone involved. Our setting is not a quick fix, a last resort, or a short-term measure to get things back on track. It is a space where change unfolds gradually through consistency, care and connection.

We are always happy to talk through potential referrals or answer questions about how we work. If it feels like a good fit, we will move forward together. If not, we will be honest and, where possible, signpost to other options. What matters most is the young person, and ensuring they are met with patience, respect and the belief that growth is possible.