Detailed Description
Somerset DofE Gold residential –
Kilve SEND Residential Nov 2025
Information
Introduction
We have the opportunity to run a residential for our Gold DofE students at Kilve Court in November. This letter provides initial information. We will then invite you to a Teams meeting to discuss further. We have managed to secure some funding but this does not cover the entire cost.
Kilve Court
Kilve Court is a beautiful grade 2 listed building in Kilve Somerset, TA5 1EA. They are part of Somerset Council – Support Services for Education and run residentials for all age groups over the year. Alongside various day events. The residential will be held onsite at Kilve and use the fantastic facilities and location during the week.
Arrival
Arrival time is at Kilve is in the morning Monday 24 November 2025 so we would ask for you to arrive at College for 9:00 We will provide a packed lunch on arrival and have a series of introduction and getting-to-know-you sessions planned, to ensure that the group gels from day one.
Departure
Departure time is 3pm on Friday 28 November 2025 from Kilve. ETA at college will be 4pm. Please be ready to collect your young person promptly/make travel arrangements.
Cost
The residential costs £370 per young person. We have secured £250 per person through funding. This cost is based on all 9 students attending. If less students attend the cost will increase slightly to cover transport, staffing and insurance. If all 9 students attend, the cost you need to pay is £120.
Accommodation
You will stay indoors in our internal accommodation, sharing with others on the residential (age and genders will be split for safeguarding).
Shower and toilets are onsite.
There is the opportunity to charge mobile phones and other devices on site – but you’ll be too busy to worry about this!
We will provide bedding for you.
Food
We will provide all meals, snacks and drinks through the week. There is a choice every day and you are guaranteed to be well fed. We can cater for all food intolerances – you just need to let us know.
You don’t need to bring additional food with you, although if you’re a budding Star Baker and want to dazzle us with your brilliance, we won’t say no!
Footwear
Kilve Court is fairly flat and level, but it is mainly grass so will be affected by the weather; please think about this when deciding what to bring.
You will be stood up and will probably walk quite a distance without realising it! Sturdy, comfortable shoes or trainers will therefore be required during the day (walking boots are ideal if you have them). There is a wheelchair that can be used by those young people who require assistance on longer journeys by foot.
You will definitely be doing sports / adventurous activities, so casual / sports kit is ideal with trainers.
Slippers are good for ‘down time’ and to wear indoors at the centre as outdoor shoes will get muddy!
What to consider bringing
We will be outside and inside whatever the weather, so clothing should be warm and waterproof as it likely to be a bit chilly in November! Keep an eye on the weather forecast! If clothing and footwear gets wet, there is plenty of spare kit.
Please avoid jeans, especially if wet weather is forecast. Hopefully the sun will be shining but clothes for all eventualities are better – so layers are perfect.
Please wear clothes that can get dirty etc. As we’d hate you to ruin a decent item of clothing! Hiking boots are ideal footwear for the activities and trainers around site.
We also have a lake onsite – so could do some water-based activities like paddle boarding – please bring appropriate clothing for this, as you may get wet!!! Wetsuits can be provided. Also, old shoes that can get wet for use on the lake. But this will be weather dependant.
Money
We don’t recommend carrying large amounts of cash and as you are going to be fed onsite- you shouldn’t need any additional money, but if you want to purchase something from the shop, we recommend you bring £5.
Activities
You will be involved in a number of different adventurous activities from archery, mountain boarding and abseiling to paddle boarding and kayaking. We will also arrange indoor activities like arts and crafts. So, it will be an active and busy week for all involved – including our fantastic SSE Outdoors staff.
DofE requirements
As this is a DofE residential and your young people are completing Gold this year, they are required to mix with students from another college. This exciting opportunity has been set up in partnership with another SEND group. You would always be with your friends and team mates but there will be other students onsite, taking part in the same activities. What an opportunity to make new friends!
Supervision
There will be SSE Outdoors staff onsite to support you 24/7. They are used to working with all age groups of visitors and are guaranteed to ensure that you have fun whilst onsite. Ali and Luke will accompany the trip and will be getting stuck in!
Information
In order to ensure that we can cater for all of the young people that wish to attend, we will ask for a consent form with further information to be populated.
What you will be doing
You will be doing fun activities on and off site through the week – please see the draft plan for an idea as to how the day will look. It is very flexible, and will be amended nearer the time when we know the weather.
Next steps
We will set up a meeting so keep an eye out for an email. This will give us the opportunity to talk through the plan and answer any questions.
We wanted to get this information out to you as soon as possible, but appreciate we do not have the final cost etc yet.
Please take a look at the SSE website for more information about what is on offer at Kilve. http://www.sseoutdoors.co.uk/our-centres/kilve-court/
Ali and Ellen
