North West Camp 2025

HESWALL CAMP 2025

I’M A CAMPER, GET ME TO THE JUNGLE!

This year’s camp welcomed 33 children for a week of fun and excitement.

Care was provided by a dedicated team of 36 adult volunteers so that parents and carers can have a much needed break. We were also supported by 12 activity volunteers, people who are under 18 and therefore not asked to provide care but bring so much energy and enthusiam to the camp.

In 2025 we had a fantastic week of activities on camp and two days out.

Our theme was‘I’m a Camper, Get me to the Jungle’and activities included animals, music, jungle crafts and even forfeits.

The week began with the children helping to colour in the huge banner made by Sue and add their own names, handprints and other personalisation along with the helpers using team colours.

Campers made their own ceramic animals to take home, we learned Makaton songs together and invited the children who regularly use Makaton or sign to teach us some of their favourite words, jokes or even give volunteers nicknames.

Introducing campers to new experiences which have previously been inaccessable to them is a great experience for all of us. Our volunteer team includes several people with Scouting and D of E experience, so we had day camping with real tents, nature trails, exotic animals and smores round the campfire. The children were invited to climb, abseil, learn archery and shooting in small dedicated groups. It was a real high point to see so many people take on the physical challenges with our support with coordination. Several campers left their wheelchairs and walking frames to get up and down the climbing wall too, with excited waves from the top!

There was a hectic game of bonkers bingo where all the children won fantastic knitted animals from local groups.

Some helpers are a target for forfiets more than others and the mess spilled into the playground briefly before a bedtime conga brought things to a close. Next years camp may well be themed as‘Aiden’s Revenge!’.

We had a wonderful day out at Eureka Science Museum in Seacombe. The live shows in were popular and everyone was able to enjoy hands on experients.

When we arrived back at camp there was live music from the Chameleon Quartet to finish a great day with a song and dance.

On two days we used the pool at Foxfield School in Woodchurch. This was a great chance for small groups to enjoy swimming and hydrotherapy with dedicated volunteers to help them as much as they needed.

This was a new approach to swimming which enabled the team to focus on the children who wanted and appreciated swimming the most to have an experience dedicated to them.

We may miss the chaotic fun of a full group swim but this meant nobody was left poolside and the facilities at a dedicated SEND school are incredible. The water was warm, changing rooms were not crowded and the hoists were ideal.

Throughout the week there were lots of opportunities to enjoy sports together and develop new skills. Rounders, Benchball and Dodgeball as well as adapted versions of cricket, football and obstacle courses were regularly enjoyed.

We had our own sports day where groups focused on the ability of each child and points were awarded for effort not only in sports but sensory activities where children could get out of their wheelchairs in safe places and move.

Unfortunately many of our volunteers were not as talented as the campers and their low points total meant bush tucker trials during the evening games that night.

Our second day out was at Liverpool Watersports Centre, near The Royal Albert Dock.

Here the campers could Kayak in tailored groups. Those who prefered it could ride on a 'Wheelyboat'named after our late Patron Sir Bert Massie, a Liverpool born disability rights campaigner and former camper himself.

This meant that nobody was left out watching from the sidelines and it was great day. Many of the children had never been rowing before and had even been told they couldn't get on the water, so this was a huge event for them. For some this was a great sensory activity, to feel the glide of their boat through the water and gentle waves for the first time. Others were able to challenge themselves in a boat of complimentary abilities and see how far they could get towards the Liver Birds.

Our final day on camp included more day camping, a camp fire, therapy animals, sensory play and volunteers quiz with buckets of gunge for those who couldn't answer correctly, pretty much everyone. That quikly turned into the biggest messy play time you have ever seen. After a shower we were ready to finish the week in style with a huge fancy dress disco.

After a week or restless nights for our volunteers and exciting days for the children it was time to pack up and head home. It was a great camp but we needed our own beds and the campers wanted to show off all their gifts, crafts and photos when they got home.

The children are already looking forward to camp 2026 and there are ideas amoung all our volunteers who are keen to support the older campers with a young adult camp, Christmas parties and remote activities.

Our Ofsted inspection took place during the week too and we are delighted to be able to confirm our 14th successive Outstanding rating.

Hard work goes into the accreditation but we need to be able to show parents and carers that our structures are in place to care for vulnerable children who have additional needs. High standards are their own reward and propel us to achieve more for and with these children and young people.