WITNEY MP Robert Courts swapped Parliament for the great outdoors as part of his annual volunteering week.

Mr Courts visited a forest school at Hilltop Garden Store in Ramsden, near Witney, which is used by young people with additional needs at charity Guideposts Trust.

The MP rolled up his sleeves and joined in several activities, including making mobiles and cooking stick bread on the campfire.

Over the course of this week, Mr Courts is spending more than 13 hours volunteering with organisations across West Oxfordshire, including Wild Oxfordshire, Sunshine Cat Rescue and the Blue Cross.

While many of these engagements will be indoors, the MP revealed he enjoyed spending Tuesday morning in the fresh air.

He said: “It was really good fun to meet everyone and help them with their activities.

“They were in great spirits and I hope I gave them a boost.”

The group began by making journey sticks, which are sticks wrapped in colourful string and pieces of material.

Mr Courts then helped service users create nature mobiles and the MP took one home to give to his two-year-old son Henry.

They then moved to the campfire to make stick bread, also known as campfire twists – dough cooked on the fire topped with jam and chocolate.

The MP also chatted to staff at the forest school, which is one of several initiatives run by Guideposts for those affected by the challenges of caring, ageing, learning disabilities and mental health.

Mr Courts said: “I want to draw attention to the amazing work in our community and I’m barely scratching the surface.

“If people know the charity exists then maybe they’ll get another volunteer out of it.”

Guideposts marketing and communications officer Sheena Drainer added: “They really enjoyed it.

“Service users who were particularly confident were very chatty with him and wanted to spend a lot of time with him.”

After visiting the forest school, Mr Courts spent the afternoon planting flowers at Bridewell Open Gardens in North Leigh.

Among Guideposts’ other initiatives is its day opportunities service for adults with learning disabilities, based on Witney’s Two Rivers Estate.

Visit guideposts.org.uk for more information.