AN ESSEX-BASED charity is achieving success in harnessing the power of nature to help turn around the lives of troubled youths from some of the county's deprived urban areas.

The Wilderness Foundation's Turnaround Project saw its first intake of teenagers graduate last year following a nine-month programme that took them from braving a camping trip on a remote Scottish island to crewing a tall ship along the River Medway.

And those behind the Chelmsford-based project say they are confident it has achieved its aims of instilling a new-found respect into the lives of 15 to 17-year-olds.

Course leader Eddie Charles said: "The thing about the wilderness is that it is very unforgiving. You don't have a lot of choices – you either do it or you don't."

Not everyone is successful on the course. Of the seven teenagers who enrolled on the inaugural programme in November 2007, two failed to finish.

But for the most part, those who took part have used the experience to go on to make positive changes in their lives.

Eddie said: "The environment becomes a common enemy, and people bond in ways they perhaps would not do in other circumstances.

"Most of them come from urban areas and haven't experienced nature before – it certainly has a big healing power."

The youths on the programme were referred through their schools and local Connexions offices.

Stripped of the everyday comforts – mobile phones, iPods, cigarettes and alcohol are all strictly banned – and forced to work as a team to get by in the wilds of Scotland, many discovered resources they did not know they possessed.

And the hope is that those resources will be there for them to draw on when faced with more everyday problems as they go on in life.

Eddie said: "When something happens, they will be able to use their experience to help them cope with it.

"Last year in Scotland we had very challenging conditions – it was cold, raining and very windy. But the morning after, when they realised they had coped with the negatives, it was a fantastic feeling.

"What we then say to them, when they might be feeling that they aren't coping well back in the real world, is what did you draw on? And we try to teach them how to use what they learned in real life as well."

The words of advice and encouragement are given to each of the youths by their mentors.

An adult mentor is assigned to each of them, to accompany them on the trips, and then stay in touch during the rest of the nine-month course, usually through a weekly meeting.

The camping and sailing trips mark the introduction and finale to the course, and there is also a monthly skills meeting where the entire group gathers to discuss their progress.

As well as the mentors, a range of other professionals in the field of youth work are involved, including psychotherapist Paul Morris.

Paul's job is to encourage the participants to think about what they are doing and how it is affecting them.

He said: "We want them to reflect on how they are interacting and what the skills they are learning could mean for them in their broader lives.

"The natural space is a natural facilitator – the group will bump up against the natural environment.

"If there is friction in the group and it starts to rain, it is likely to bring the friction to the surface where it will have to be dealt with."

More information and pictures from the group's expeditions can be found on the organisation's website at www.wildernessfoundation.org.uk

The project is currently looking for adult mentors to take part in its second phase, which will begin later this year.

They are looking for people aged 23 or over to work with vulnerable young people on the nature-based project, involving two life-changing trips as well as ongoing support work.

Full training will be provided, and as well as the camping and sailing trips, mentors will need to commit to a monthly skills meeting, usually held at Danbury Outdoors Centre.

They will also hold weekly or fortnightly one-on-one informal meetings with the young person they are assigned to.

Project worker Eddie Charles said: "Mentors and coaches go through the same experiences together – the coach's self-esteem increases as well, and we find they gain a lot themselves from it.

"This is an opportunity for community-minded people to make a worthwhile contribution to the wellbeing of vulnerable young people in mid-Essex whilst participating in a rewarding project."

For more details contact Eddie or Sue on 01245 443073 or email info@wildernessfoundation.org.uk