Our Free Minds is a consent-based, self-directed learning hub for children not accessing mainstream education in Wiltshire, including those who do flexi-schooling and home-education.

We are excited to launch this fundraiser to buy a second-hand shipping container to serve as a quiet zone. It will provide a precious extra indoor space for the children, e.g. to read, study, rest, write or simply to self-regulate.

(For illustration only)

Our target is to raise £4500 towards the overall cost of approx. £6,000 (incl. electricity, heating, windows, doors and transportation).

Background

The number of home-educated children has risen sharply in recent years, a trend boosted by the pandemic, including a 23% increase in Wiltshire. We offer these children the best of both worlds: a project-based, child-led learning environment where children are free to explore what is interesting and important to them combined with a sense of community so they have the chance to socialise and learn important life skills from the group.

Our Free Minds is a registered charity funded mainly by attendance fees and donations. We keep our fees low so that our community is accessible to as many families as possible, regardless of means. Our group is growing all the time, and the pace is accelerating with each passing term. Just in the first half of 2023, we have doubled in size, from 15 children to 30.

We are currently based in the Burbage Scout Hut which is a structure with no separate rooms. Noise management has been an ongoing issue because of the lack of separate spaces. A converted shipping container would address this and significantly help us to support the children's needs.

We appreciate many of us are struggling financially at the moment but anything you can contribute, however small, will make a difference and is deeply appreciated.

If we raise more than our target amount, we would take the discretion to use the surplus money for furnishing and decorating the quiet space. For example, we may buy some sofas, bean bags, cushions, fairy lights, a speaker etc for that space.

If we raise less than our target amount, we would apply to our board of trustees for allocating funds from Our Free Minds' account to cover the difference. If we are still short of money, we would raise more funds from other fundraising initiatives.

For more on our group, please check out www.ourfreeminds.org.

Thank you!