We would like to say a huge well done and thank you to all of the young people who joined us for another exciting week with the Portsmouth Teenage Project. Despite the challenges that many of our young people live with day-to-day, their enthusiasm, positivity and good behaviour shone through every day of this second week.
The week began with independent travel training, tailored for those living in the north of the city. After practising bus journeys to Gunwharf Quays, the group enjoyed a cinema trip to see Disney’s Freakier Friday, with some even choosing the high-adrenaline option of a rib ride on the water. It was wonderful to see young people gaining new skills, building confidence and enjoying the rewards of their hard work.
On Tuesday, Casemates Studios was filled with music and laughter for our summer karaoke party. With microphones in hand, lyrics projected onto the big screen and pizzas to fuel the fun, everyone had the chance to let their voices be heard, whatever their singing ability. The colourful tropical outfits made the atmosphere even brighter for this summer party.
Wednesday’s trip to Southsea Castle gave the group a taste of local history as they stood in the same spot where Henry VIII watched the Mary Rose sink. After lunch, there was time for arcades and ice creams at South Parade Pier. Just as the group were enjoying the arcade games, the atmosphere outside shifted dramatically with loud claps of thunder and flashes of lightning rolling across the seafront. Far from dampening spirits, it added to the excitement of the day.
Thursday offered something very different: a creative Warhammer workshop. Our young people built, painted and played using miniatures from the Warhammer Alliance kit kindly gifted to the charity, guided by the store’s friendly manager Lee and lovely assistant, Hannah. We even had a guest appearance from our Chair of Trustees, Sue Coldham, who joined in with one of the Warhammer games (there’s a first for everything in life)! For many of our young people, it was their first time trying the activity and it was inspiring to see their imaginations come to life. A relaxed lunch at Wendy’s in between sessions gave everyone a chance to recharge and conquer the world!
The week ended on a high with a very special day trip to the Isle of Wight. Travelling by hovercraft, the group spent the day at Ryde enjoying fish and chips on the sandy beach, kindly provided to us by local chip shop Chipmunks. This was followed by a swim in the sea under lifeguard supervision. Whether splashing in the shallow water or swimming further out, everyone enjoyed the freedom of the water and the perfect summer weather.
We are so proud of how well the young people represented themselves and the charity across such a varied and busy programme. Their kindness to one another, sense of fun and willingness to try new things made the week a joy for staff to deliver.
Thank you again to every young person who joined us and to their families for supporting them to take part. We look forward to the next stage of our summer programme, with more activities and adventures still to come in week three.
