Project name: Root and Rise through CashBack – Rewilding Youth Futures
Age range: 10-25 years
Root & Rise through CashBack – Rewilding Youth Futures is a transformative outdoor youth development project designed for young people aged 10-25 who face significant challenges, including disengagement from education or work, poverty, trauma, care experience and involvement with or risk of offending. Many participants experience isolation, low self-worth and are often misunderstood or marginalised in their communities.
The project delivers 3 weekly sessions (one per location in Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, and Stirling), each lasting 3 hours, running for up to 48 weeks per year. These sessions provide consistent, year-round support and take place in natural outdoor environments, leveraging the therapeutic benefits of nature to promote mental wellbeing and reduce stress. Weekly sessions offer engaging, hands-on activities including bushcraft, conservation, outdoor cooking, and creative nature-based tasks. Sessions are facilitated by trauma-informed youth workers and supported by trained peer mentors, creating safe, inclusive spaces where young people can build confidence, develop teamwork and communication skills, and foster a sense of belonging.
As participants progress, they are empowered to take on leadership roles by mentoring peers and co-delivering activities. They also design and implement ‘Reclaim the Wild’ community projects, such as converting neglected spaces into wildlife gardens or public artworks, fostering pride and positive community impact. In addition, quarterly family and carer sessions are held outdoors to rebuild trust, strengthen relationships, and involve support networks in young people’s journeys. Root & Rise through CashBack addresses root causes of antisocial behaviour by providing safe spaces, positive role models, and purposeful activity to young people.
Local authority areas:
Clackmannanshire; Falkirk; Stirling
