The Big Walk 2016 will involve up to thirty students from the school walking 45 miles from Whitby to Ampleforth College, keeping going for 24 hours overnight from 18th to 19th June.  It will be a gruelling challenge for them, but on the basis of last year’s walk, a fantastic experience.  More importantly the students aim to raise £4,000 for the Friendship Holiday.

This was established in 2004 in conjunction with Oak Field School in Nottingham. Oak Field School is a Specialist Sports College for students with mental, physical and various other disabilities. The pupils from Nottingham are sixth formers, many of whom are leaving their school this year. Chronologically they are the same age as our own students at Ampleforth but have significant differences in their physical, mental and social needs. 

The Holiday takes place in the last week of the summer term.  Thirty middle sixth students host the Oak Field students in Alban Roe House.  Our students are off-timetable and accompany their guests 24-hours a day: they share dormitories, eat, pray and recreate together.  Activities include trips to Diggerland, Flamingoland, bowling in York, swimming, doing art, playing football, and a lot of dancing at the Windmill.  It is a
tremendous experience for our students, and a fantastic holiday for all.

The Friendship Holiday costs around £10,000 – sponsorship from the Big Walk aims to be a major contributor to this.’