Project Overview
This is a fundraising project designed for Sixth Form pupils from schools to go to Australia for the trip of a lifetime and in return raise sponsorship for the Foundation.
In 2002 the first Oz Experience trips were held whereby 30 youngsters from across the UK traveled Down Under raising over £60,000 for our work for children with terminal cancer and their families. This success has been built on with a team of 60 traveling in 2003, 95 in 2004 and 107 in 2005 and approximately 130 annually thereafter. As it stands to date, we have now sent approximately 1000 young adults to Australia on this expedition. When they arrive in Australia they have time to settle in for a couple of days in one of the Australian Governments official hostels before starting their conservation work. The conservation work takes place from 8am until 4pm with breaks in the morning and afternoon. After work the group will gather together to cook dinner.
After a week of hard work it’s on to Sydney for some sightseeing – there is Bondi Beach, Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, shopping at Darling Harbour and a visit to the Sydney Jewish Museum. They then all fly back together to the UK.
The youngsters who travel to either Australia will participate in conservation/restoration work at various locations organised and supervised staff. Australia’s largest conservation organization is CVA. They can expect to experience anything from clearing lantana weed, to planting trees to building pathways.