The first week of the Portsmouth Teenage Project’s summer scheme has been packed with energy, adventure and unforgettable experiences; setting the tone for what’s shaping up to be the best summer yet for our young people.
We kicked off the first week with an Independent Travel Training Induction Day! On this day we started with a prize draw run by council representatives, three lucky winners ended the day with brand-new bikes! We also were treated to a visit to the Guildhall Chambers, chaired by Mike Stoneman, the Deputy Director of Education at Portsmouth City Council, plus joined by Councillor Peter Candlish who is the Cabinet Member for Transport, we met other council leaders to talk about how public transport in the city could be improved, followed by completing bike handling sessions in the park as part of our ongoing travel confidence programme. Also, huge thanks to Rob Vince from Stagecoach, who supported us on this first day by bringing with him a double-decker bus which was hugely popular with the group.
Tuesday was our second day of independent travel training, where we had our Bikeability bike ride led by Donna and her team from Pedal Power, this gave our young people real-world experiences of navigating the city’s cycling infrastructure. Starting at Victoria Park, our bike ride led us all the way to the seafront, helping to build confidence and safety awareness, backed by a dedicated team of staff on-hand to support our young people every step of the way.
Wednesday, we were off on an exciting excursion to the Watercress Line Heritage Steam Railway. Travelling in our charity minibus to Alresford, our group jumped on a steam train to Ropley; the day offered a nostalgic glimpse into railway history, allowing plenty of time to return to Portsmouth via the stunning South Downs National Park.
On Thursday, we stepped into the fast lane with a visit to the Full SEND Racing Lounge at Gunwharf Quays. With two action-packed racing sessions and a relaxed lunch on the Gunwharf Quays waterfront, it was a day full of fun, friendly competition and a healthy dose of adrenaline.
We rounded off the week with a much-anticipated trip to Ninja Warrior UK in Southampton, this was our most popular day with 23 young people joining us! After a walk from the nearby train station, through the picturesque Sholing Valley and stopping for lunch en route in the play park, the group tackled the challenging course of Ninja Warrior with grit and enthusiasm, not to mention the huge inflatable theme park.
And this is just the beginning. With two more exciting weeks still to come, our summer programme is far from over. From water sports to creative workshops, seaside adventures and further day trips outside of Portsmouth, we’ve packed the schedule with even more fun and discovery for our young people.
Thanks to the continued support of the Holiday, Activities and Food (HAF) programme, in partnership with Portsmouth City Council; we’ve been able to offer most of the above opportunities completely free of charge; removing barriers and helping everyone make the most of their summer.
Stay tuned for updates from Weeks 2 and 3 as the adventures continue.
