Creed Outdoor

Creed Outdoor: outdoor adventure and learning activities in Kent

Creed Outdoor is an organisation based in Faversham (Kent) dedicated to the design, development and delivery of educational, adventure and team building activities and programmes. Its work is aimed at young people, school groups and families, and combines activities at its own centre with outreach programmes that can be delivered at school sites.

Activities and programmes

The offer includes school holiday camps and activities, outdoor learning, educational programmes and family activities. At its Millennium Woods centre (Teynham), activities are organised for schools and youth groups, as well as holiday clubs and family sessions.

Among the activities it delivers are archery, axe throwing, climbing, high ropes, abseiling, low ropes, survival skills (shelter building and fire lighting), physical ability courses, team building and problem solving, blind-line, orienteering and environmental activities such as mini beast hunts, pond dipping, tree and wildlife identification and environmental-themed artwork.

Team and facilities

Activities are led by qualified and experienced staff and instructors. The organisation has an outdoor activity centre at Millennium Woods, in Teynham, and a correspondence address in Faversham.

Background and history

Creed Outdoor Learning was founded in 2011 by Paul Oxberry to develop and deliver outdoor educational and adventure activities in Swale, Kent. In 2012 it was part of a consortium commissioned by Kent County Council to provide youth club activities, initially in Faversham and later across the wider Swale area; it subsequently left the consortium and went on to run its own youth projects, funded by local grants, Faversham lottery tickets and contributions from users of its outdoor centre.

Youth club and community work

The youth clubs are free to attend and run by volunteers with extensive experience in youth work and numerous qualifications. They follow the national youth curriculum framework around education, empowerment, equality and participation. Each year, young people take part in fundraising for charity, in the KYCC elections and in an end-of-year overnight camp.

Funding and access

The organisation strives to keep prices affordable and seeks grants to subsidise some activities. It has received funding from local Swale Borough councillors, Kent County Council's 'Reconnect' project, Swale Youth and local Rotary, and is one of the good causes benefiting from the Faversham and District community lottery.

Professional profile of its founder

Paul Oxberry has more than twenty years of experience as an outdoor instructor at centres in Kent run by Kent County Council and Widehorizons, in addition to his work as a school governor and youth worker. He is an accredited Practitioner of the Institute of Outdoor Learning, an IOL coach, mentor and facilitator, and holds Level 3 diplomas in outdoor education and physical education studies, Forest School and woodland learning training and experience, NLP and educational psychology training, PTLLS tutor qualification, GNAS/Archery GB archery leadership, BSCA mountain bike leadership, RCI (SPA) rock climbing instructor, ML training, NNAS silver navigation, remote first aid and rescue, first aid trainer and assessor, Level 3 Safeguarding Lead, NLP practitioner, ERCA high ropes training and City & Guilds carpentry.

Locations and premises

Local Correspondence Address: 165 Lower Road, Faversham, ME13 7NE

Local Creed Activity Site Address: Creed Outdoor Centre, Millennium Woods, Castlewood Farm, Conyer Road, Teynham, ME9 9EA