Our History

Blackpool, 1978

Windmill Youth Group's story starts with Police Inspector Stuart Sykes of Lancashire Constabulary.

Working with young people in Blackpool, Stuart believed that prevention, responsibility and opportunity could achieve things that enforcement alone could not.

With the support of his Chief Constable, a Duke of Edinburgh's Award initiative began at Bonny Street police station. Weekly meetings brought young people together around service, responsibility and personal development. As the scheme grew, members of the team undertook additional training so they could support expedition activity and the wider Award.

By the end of the 1980s, the work had outgrown its original police setting. Stuart retired from the police in 1989 after 32 years of service, but the youth work continued independently.

Across the decades, young people volunteered in their community, trained for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, undertook demanding expeditions in Britain and overseas, and learned what they were capable of by doing difficult things well.

WINDMILL Timeline

This is the story of how it began, where it went, and why the work continues today.

1978 - The beginning

Police Inspector Stuart Sykes establishes the group at Blackpool Police Headquarters after persuading the Chief Constable that challenge, service and achievement could create better opportunities for local young people.

Early 1980’s - beyond community service

What began around the volunteering element develops into a much broader Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme, with Stuart and other volunteers gaining outdoor qualifications to support young people through the Award.

1982 - a christmas tradition begins

Windmill begins its Christmas Day visits to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, part of a much wider commitment to volunteering and giving something back to the local community.

1989 - windmill finds its identity

Following Stuart’s retirement from Lancashire Constabulary, the group continues independently. It moves into Great Marton Windmill, helps with its restoration and takes the Windmill name that would define the organisation for decades to come.

1989 - across the iron curtain

The East Germany youth exchange gives young people an extraordinary international experience at a pivotal moment in European history, demonstrating an ambition that would later take Windmill participants around the world.

late 1990’s - a permanent outdoor base

With support from the National Lottery, Windmill purchases its own outdoor pursuits unit, creating a permanent base for its expanding programme of training, expeditions and youth development.

2002 - Recognition for a Lifetime of Service

Stuart Sykes is appointed MBE for services to young people in Blackpool, recognising decades of voluntary service and leadership through the Windmill Youth Group.

2000s–2010s -

Service in Action

Generations of Windmill youngsters contribute thousands of hours to community and environmental projects, including a decade caring for woodland in South Cumbria — building paths and bridges, restoring dry-stone walls and managing the woodland environment.

2020–2024 -

Windmill Through a Changing World

Through Covid and the years that followed, Windmill continues developing young people while also maintaining public paths and the pond around the De Vere area of Blackpool, keeping service, resilience and practical challenge at the heart of the Group.

2026 -

The Next Generation

After nearly 50 years, Sam Sykes succeeds his father as Chairman. Windmill enters a new chapter, moving from directly delivering expeditions to funding Gold DofE opportunities for young people from Blackpool and the Fylde Coast who might otherwise be unable to access them.

Service before self

A young woman playing the cello in a hospital room while a nurse and a patient are visible in the background.

Community service was part of the Windmill Youth Group from the beginning. Young people helped older and disabled people, worked with community organisations and took on practical projects that demanded patience, reliability and effort.

One of the longest traditions was Christmas Day. From the early years, Windmill Youth Group members gave up part of Christmas to support others. From 1982, that included visiting wards at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, speaking with patients and bringing some company to people spending Christmas in hospital. The hospital visits continued until 2024.

The point was never simply to record volunteering hours. Service was treated as part of growing up: noticing other people, taking responsibility and contributing when there was no personal reward attached.

Expeditions

Group of hikers at mountain summit with flags, rugged terrain, and rocky ground.

As the Windmill Youth Group developed, expedition work became a defining part of the group. Young people learned navigation, campcraft, teamwork, fitness and the practical skills required to operate safely in demanding environments.

The expeditions ranged from Gold journeys in the Lake District, Scotland and Wales to ambitious overseas projects. Over the years Windmill Youth Group teams travelled to the Alps, Kenya, Morocco, Canada, Peru, Scandinavia, British Columbia, France and Spain, often combining an expedition with community, educational or environmental work.

The objective was consistent: preparation mattered, standards mattered, and young people were expected to take genuine responsibility for the challenge they had chosen.

Selected expeditions and projects

1991 - The Alps.

A major Alpine expedition includes ascents in the European Alps, including the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc.

1992 - Kenya.

Windmill Youth Group members supported practical work at a school before undertaking a west-to-east traverse of Mount Kenya, reaching more than 5,000 metres.

1996 - Morocco.

Teams travelled through the Atlas Mountains and climbed Toubkal, while supporting remote communities with educational materials.

1999 - Canada.

A five-week canoe expedition explored waterways in eastern Canada, including the Ottawa, Quebec, St Lawrence and Algonquin regions.

2002 - Peru.

After months of fundraising in Blackpool, the team travelled to the Andes and trekked in the Cordillera Huayhuash. An intended donation of educational equipment was lost after problems at customs - a difficult part of the expedition's history, but one worth recording factually.

2008 - British Columbia.

Sea kayaking and trail work on Vancouver Island formed part of a project involving local communities and the natural environment.

A group of people wearing helmets and outdoor gear trekking across a snowy and icy mountain slope, with a person in the foreground observing or participating.
A group of people, mostly teenagers and one adult, standing together in a parking lot near cars at an airport or similar location.
Two climbers with red helmets and backpacks sitting on a snowy mountain ridge with a glacier and mountain range in the background.
Two young adults, one with curly hair and the other with dark hair, walking through a dense cornfield, looking ahead with a serious expression.
Group of six children with backpacks standing outdoors near water and mountains in the background.
Group of children in red jackets on a rocky landscape with snow-capped mountains and lakes in the background
Two hikers standing on a snow-covered mountain peak under a clear blue sky, holding hiking poles and wearing backpacks.
Group of people in a canoe near a large cave, wearing helmets and muddy clothes after a caving adventure.
Three young people standing outside a brick building, holding certificates and smiling at the camera.
Four workers in safety gear are cutting a fallen tree in a forest, with trees and grass in the background.
Two young men sitting on chairs near a wood stove, smiling and gesturing with their hands, in a cozy room with a wooden door and a white wall.
Two wooden cabins in a wooded area with a small outdoor playground, containing a slide, benches, a red cooler, and scattered outdoor toys.
Six people dressed in outdoor hiking gear standing on rocks on a mountain trail, with foggy weather in the background.
Group of six people sitting on rocks and gravel near a rescue post sign, with a wooden shelter behind them, on a foggy rocky hillside, some holding backpacks and snacks.
Group of hikers walking near a rocky cave entrance surrounded by trees.
A camping tent and gear set up on a grassy hillside with mountains in the background, under overcast sky.
Group of people standing outdoors in front of a brick building, many wearing red jackets, some with their arms around each other.
A man in yellow caving gear with a helmet giving a thumbs up while crawling inside a wet cave.
Two people wearing life jackets and helmets in a small boat on a lake, with green hills in the background.
Six hikers in outdoor gear standing on a rocky trail with grassy hills behind them, foggy weather, and a cloudy sky.
Child wearing a red helmet and black winter clothing lying on snow, reaching out with one hand, while a black and white dog stands nearby on snow in a mountainous area.
Person in a red kayak paddling through ocean waves, wearing a blue helmet and life jacket.
Group of six young people with backpacks sitting and chatting on rocky terrain near a rescue post sign.
People at the beach building sandcastles, with a woman pouring sand from a bucket, and backpacks on the ground.
A group of children climbing up a grassy sand dune near the beach on a sunny day.
Group of people participating in a kayaking class in an indoor swimming pool, wearing helmets and life jackets, with some instructors aiding students.
Group of people in a boat and muddy clothing, celebrating after a caving adventure near a cave entrance in a rocky setting.
Group of five hikers standing on a foggy mountain trail, wearing outdoor gear and backpacks.
Five people standing outdoors in front of mountains with snow, cloudy sky, and grassy terrain.
Group of teenagers smiling and hugging outdoors during sunset
Five hikers dressed in waterproof jackets and gear standing on a rural road in a hilly, grassy landscape on a cloudy day.
Group of young people and two adults standing outside against a brick wall, with blue barrels in front, all wearing red jackets.
Six people standing on a stone ledge outdoors with mountain views in the background, holding hands and jumping in the air.
Group of children and teenagers outdoors with mountains and trees in the background, raising their hands in celebration.
A harbor with boats docked, surrounded by colorful buildings and steep mountains in the background.
A group of teenagers and young adults, some holding flashlights, gathered in a grassy field near the beach with a mountain in the background, during sunset.
Group of children in red jackets posing around a large, abstract stone sculpture resembling a bird in an outdoor area with a building and green hills in the background.
Two hikers standing on a snowy mountain peak, holding trekking poles, against a clear blue sky.
Group of people sitting and standing on a lighthouse tower, overlooking the ocean, with a boat visible below and a cloudy sky.
A man smiling and waving while standing on a cobblestone street in front of a white building with arched windows. He is wearing a white T-shirt, colorful shorts, black boots, and has a beige cast on his left knee.
Group of six young women and one man standing outdoors in front of a building, all wearing matching light blue jerseys, with one man holding a rugby ball and a stuffed toy.
Group of smiling children and adults wearing red shirts on mountain summit, with a flag and rocky landscape in the background.
Group of six young people standing outdoors on grassy terrain with backpacks in front of a scenic landscape featuring water, hills, and a cloudy sky.
Group of nine people wearing warm clothing, standing and sitting on rocks atop a mountain, with snow-capped peaks in the background under a clear blue sky.
A woman smiling in the cockpit of a helicopter, holding the control stick, with mountains and a valley visible outside the window.
Group of young people in red jackets on a rock in a mountainous landscape with snow-capped peaks.
Group of people on a rocky mountain peak during winter, some holding a British flag, with a cross monument behind them and snow on the ground.
Two people walking through a dense cornfield, with the woman in the front looking directly at the camera and the man behind her partially visible.
Two male climbers with helmets and backpacks sitting on a snowy mountain peak with a glacier and mountain range in the background.
Four young people standing in front of an old stone graveyard with a hill and ruins in the background, carrying backpacks and gear.
Group of people with backpacks and gear standing in front of a white van in a rural area with rolling hills in the background.
A woman smiling in a mountainous landscape with cactus plants and rocky terrain.
Two boys with backpacks standing on a mountain trail, with rugged mountain peaks in the background.
A group of eleven teenagers and one adult standing in a parking lot, with parked cars and an airport control tower in the background.
Three young people standing outdoors in front of a scenic landscape of hills and a lake, wearing jackets and backpacks.
A group of people in outdoor winter gear on a rocky mountain summit, holding Union Jack flags, celebrating their achievement.
Four young men working outdoors on digging and construction tasks, with brick wall and discarded tires in the background.
Three friends smiling and hiking near a lake in a mountainous landscape with green hills and cloudy sky.
Hikers walking in a large, rocky cave with high, dark ceiling and rugged walls.
A group of people wearing helmets and outdoor gear climbing on a snow-covered mountain slope.
Five hikers with backpacks standing on a wet country road in a hilly landscape with grass and shrubs under an overcast sky.
Two children in a kayak on a lake, each playing a small wind instrument, with a forested shoreline in the background.
Group of young hikers smiling and posing on a grassy hillside with a scenic countryside in the background, carrying backpacks and walking gear.
Five people standing outdoors on grass with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.
Group of people wearing red shirts on a mountain summit, celebrating with some raising their hands, with a rock formation and cloudy sky in the background.
Harbor with boats docked along the water, mountains in the background, and buildings lining the shores.
A group of people in a boat and on the rocks near a cave entrance, wearing muddy clothes and helmets after a caving or rafting adventure.
Group of people standing outdoors in front of a brick wall, wearing matching red jackets, with blue barrels on the ground in front of them.
Three teenagers standing outdoors in a grassy landscape with rolling hills, lakes, and mountains in the background.
Six people standing on a stone wall outdoors with mountains in the background, some gesturing and smiling, enjoying a sunny day.
Two hikers standing atop a snow-covered peak, holding trekking poles, with a clear blue sky in the background.
Group of five hikers on a mountain trail, dressed in outdoor gear, with rocky mountain and fog in the background.
Group of seven people standing outside in front of a beige building with a red tiled roof, wearing blue sports jackets, one person holding a rugby ball, and another holding a small package, under a blue sky with some clouds.
Group of young teenagers smiling and posing for a photo outdoors during sunset.
Group of people sitting on grass near a beach with water and cliffs in the background during sunset.
A woman aircraft pilot wearing headphones, smiling, and holding the control stick inside a helicopter with mountainous landscape in the background.
Group of young people in red jackets posing on rocks in a mountainous landscape with snow-capped peaks and lakes in the background.
Group of four people standing in front of an old stone church and graveyard, with mountains in the background and luggage on the ground.
Group of children sitting around the top of a lighthouse, with one standing and waving a flag, overlooking the ocean and distant islands.
A young man with a bandaged knee standing outside a white church, smiling and waving, wearing colorful shorts and a white t-shirt.
Three friends hiking in a mountainous landscape with a lake, wearing jackets and backpacks, smiling at the camera.
Group of children wearing red jackets sitting on and around a large, carved stone sculpture of a bird in a park with buildings and hills in the background.
Two hikers in a mountainous desert landscape with sparse vegetation, cacti, and rocky terrain, under cloudy skies.
A group of hikers, including children and adults, standing on a rocky mountain peak with snow-covered mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.
Two boys standing in front of a mountainous landscape with winding trails.
Group of hikers with backpacks and gear, standing and kneeling on the roadside with a white mobile emergency vehicle behind them, in an open rural landscape with fields and hills in the distance.
Group of six children with backpacks standing outdoors by a lakeside with hills in the background.
Two hikers, a young woman and a young man, walking through a dense cornfield.
Group of 11 young people standing together outdoors in a parking lot, with cars and an airport control tower in the background.
Group of young men doing yard work, digging and working with tools outside near a brick wall and old tires.
Group of people on a rocky summit celebrating with British flags, dressed in outdoor gear and winter clothing.
A group of people in winter gear and helmets ice climbing on a snow-covered slope near a rocky mountain with green trees in the background.
Hikers inside a large, rocky cave with rugged stone walls and a wide opening.
A group of twelve teenagers standing outside in a parking lot in front of a modern building, wearing casual clothing.
Group of hikers in winter clothing posing on a mountain peak with snow-capped mountains in the background.
Group of eight people dressed in winter clothing, standing on rocks on a mountain with snow-covered peaks in the background, under a clear blue sky.
Group of people in muddy clothes and helmets with headlamps on a boat near a cave entrance, suggesting they are on a caving or spelunking adventure.
Two hikers standing on a snow-covered mountain summit, with one male and one female, holding trekking poles and wearing backpacks and winter gear.
Group of six young people standing in front of a stone wall with a plaque, smiling at the camera outdoors.
A group of people in colorful outdoor gear standing on a rocky shoreline near a body of water, with kayaks on the rocks behind them, under an overcast sky.
Group of people gathered around a table decorating with colorful beads and ornaments.
Four construction workers wearing hard hats working behind a stone wall in a wooded area.
Two teenage boys standing behind a large table filled with hundreds of zippered plastic bags containing toy or candy-like items, in an indoor setting.
A large model of a Royal Air Force jet plane in red and white colors inside a workshop, with tools and equipment in the background.
Group of people outdoors on a grassy hill, surrounded by trees, some sitting and some standing
Group of five people wearing safety helmets and reflective vests studying an old stone wall outdoors in a wooded area.
Two women sitting at a table promoting Lancaster Crime Stoppers, with banners about volunteering and community crime concern behind them.
Group of people dressed in Christmas sweaters and Santa hats singing or performing during a holiday celebration indoors, decorated with Christmas ornaments and festive decorations.
Person wearing a safety helmet and vest holding a moss-covered log in a forested area.
A small pond reflecting trees and the sky, surrounded by dirt and fallen leaves in a wooded area.
Two workers wearing helmets and reflective vests carrying logs near trees in a forested area.
Group of people in red uniforms standing on a field with model airplane.
Group of young people in high-visibility vests at an outdoor site, working on a stone wall repair.
Group of children and adults wearing Santa hats in a glass corridor
Person wearing a green helmet, yellow waterproof suit, and black gloves navigating through dense, tangled reeds and branches near a waterway.
A group of people gathered in a room with wood-paneled walls and various coat of arms on the wall. Two individuals, a woman and a man, are standing in front of a large vertical banner that says "Giving Day" and "Giving Day" again. The audience is sit
People participating in a charity event wearing colorful shirts, with a woman smiling in the foreground, standing near a signpost on a cloudy day.
Group of people dressed as Royal Air Force airmen pushing a model airplane on a street during a parade or event.
A group of young people dressed in Christmas-themed hats and accessories posing in a glass-enclosed walkway with brick building and greenery outside.
Group of people wearing Santa hats posing in a glass hallway.
Children and adults outdoors gathering around a campfire, with one boy carrying a large log in foreground, trees, sheds, and smoke rising from the fire in the background.
Four people in a grassy outdoor area with trees, using gardening or landscaping tools; one man facing the camera wears a blue helmet and holds a string trimmer.
Children and adults in yellow raincoats and helmets working together to install a concrete marker or boundary stone in a muddy outdoor area.
Five people are walking through a forest, holding a large fallen tree branch as it blocks their path. The forest is dense with tall trees and green foliage.
A dirt trail winding through a dense forest of tall pine trees with sunlight filtering through the canopy.
Group of children and adults wearing red Christmas sweaters and Santa hats, posing for a group photo in a glass-enclosed walkway.
A man is holding a large cut tree trunk in a forested area, with other people visible in the background, some of whom are wearing helmets and appear to be hiking or exploring.
A group of people wearing Santa hats and red shirts lining up in a hospital hallway, holding papers, possibly waiting for a holiday event.
A pile of rocks on a grassy hillside in a green valley surrounded by mountains under a clear blue sky.
Group of eight children with medals and purple bags, standing on green grass, with a dog in front, at an outdoor event with tents and vehicles in the background.
A group of eleven people in outdoor gear standing on rocky and grassy shoreline by a lake, with two kayaks on rocks nearby, during overcast weather.
Group of children and adults participating in an outdoor rock exploration or geology activity, with some wearing helmets.
Two people wearing hard hats and working in a field in front of a stone wall and green trees.
Three young men standing outdoors near a blue van and a large wooden structure, with trees and a dirt path in the background.
Group of six people, five children and one young man, standing in front of a stone building with a plaque. The plaque commemorates Ruthwaite Lodge, restored by the Outward Bound Ullswater team, dedicated in 1993 to Richard Read and Mike Evans, tutors
Three people working together to build or restore a stone wall outdoors, one wearing a hard hat, in a wooded area.
Group of teenagers dressed in red for a holiday celebration, with one girl wearing reindeer antlers headband and a girl in front with a cream arm sling.
Two girls hiking in a grassy, mountainous area, carrying large trekking poles across their shoulders, with a small black dog nearby.
A person wearing a colorful jester hat and a red jacket giving a thumbs up, with three other people in red jackets in the background.
People building a trail in a wooded area with leaves on the ground and trees around.
Group of children and adults standing outdoors in a forested area holding shovels, some leaning on or raising shovels, in front of a sign that says "Welcome to Baileyton Gibbon Playground".
Group of young people wearing helmets and outdoor clothing in a wooded area, carrying and balancing logs.
Group of people performing a human pyramid with a person dressed as a wizard on top, inside a glass corridor.
Four people wearing yellow jackets and helmets standing on a stone wall in a wooded area.
People working with shovels and wheelbarrows on a gravel pile on a rural road surrounded by trees and open fields.
Group of six young people wearing yellow safety vests and holding tools, working together outdoors near a stone wall surrounded by trees.
Group of people dressed in red and blue uniforms walking on a bridge, pulling a large model airplane labeled 'Royal Air Force' during a charity event.
Two workers wearing helmets and vests carrying logs through a wooded area.
A person wearing a green helmet, yellow raincoat, and gloves working near a water body surrounded by leafless branches, carrying a long stick on their shoulder.
Group of children and an adult observing a rock formation outdoors, with some wearing helmets and waterproof boots, on a rainy day.
Group of people standing by a lake shore with kayaks, dressed in outdoor gear for kayaking or hiking, with trees and a distant hilly landscape in the background.
Group of people dressed in waterproof outdoor clothing standing on rocky shoreline near lake, with kayaks in the background and trees in the distance.
Group of people, mostly children, wearing Christmas hats in a glass-enclosed corridor at holiday party.
A group of young people dressed in Christmas attire, singing or performing in a decorated room with holiday decorations hanging from the ceiling.

Practical service and the environment

A woman in a yellow rain jacket and blue scarf leaning on rocks outdoors, smiling, with a grassy landscape and distant hills in the background.

Windmill Youth Group's volunteering was often physical. Members repaired paths and dry-stone walls, cleared vegetation, worked on wildlife projects and helped create better access to outdoor spaces.

From 2006, the group became heavily involved at Snows Heights, a woodland and youth centre in South Cumbria. Over more than a decade, Windmill Youth Group members and volunteers put substantial time into woodland management, drainage, paths, walls, ponds, access and other practical improvements.

After leaving Snows Heights, the group took on local environmental work in Blackpool, helping keep around ten kilometres of public paths accessible and carrying out maintenance around the De Vere area until the end of 2024.

People who shaped Windmill Youth Group

 
 

Stuart Sykes MBE

Stuart founded the Windmill Youth Group following work he began with young people while serving as a Lancashire police officer in 1978. His belief was simple but powerful: given challenge, responsibility and opportunity, young people could change the direction of their lives.

For over five decades, he has devoted himself to making that belief a reality. Thousands of young people from across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast have been challenged, supported and encouraged through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the outdoors, regardless of their background or circumstances. His contribution to young people was recognised with an MBE in 2002. Today, Stuart remains closely involved with the charity he created and the selection of its next generation.

Pat Appleton

Pat joined the Windmill Youth Group in the 1990s and became one of the people whose commitment and generosity helped sustain its work for many years. A tireless supporter and fundraiser, she played a particularly important role in raising substantial funds for improvements at Snows Heights and in supporting the Group’s wider charitable work.

But Pat’s contribution went far beyond fundraising. She gave her time, energy and encouragement to the young people and people around the Group, becoming an important part of the Windmill Youth Group family. She continued supporting charitable causes until her death in 2017, leaving a legacy that remains part of the Group’s story today.

 

Sam Sykes - Chairman

Sam grew up through the Windmill Youth Group, completing his own Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and discovering the outdoors through the opportunities the Group created.

He went on to build his career in outdoor education and adventure, founding and leading businesses delivering major expedition programmes, professional instructor development and specialist projects across the UK and internationally, working with schools, leading outdoor brands and the military.

After 15 years as Vice Chairman, Sam succeeded his father as Chairman in 2025. From participant to Chairman, his role now is to carry forward what Stuart, Pat and others built — protecting its values while creating those same life-changing opportunities for a new generation.

A new chapter

Group of people sitting around the top of a lighthouse, with a single person standing at the very top.

By the end of 2024, the Windmill Youth Group had reached a natural point of change. From 2025 the charity stopped directly delivering its own programme of outdoor activities and moved to a funding and support model.

Today, the Windmill Youth Group focuses on Gold DofE. Young people apply to the charity for support; successful applicants complete their Award through an appropriate DofE provider, while the Windmill Youth Group funds the agreed costs and helps remove practical financial barriers.

The delivery model is different. The underlying idea is not: give young people access to a worthwhile challenge, expect commitment in return, and help them discover what they can achieve.

The story carries on.

If Gold DofE is something you want to take on - or you would like to help another young person do it - this is where the next chapter starts.

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