This February half term, the young people from the Portsmouth Teenage Project took part in a programme packed full of action, creating unforgettable moments that will make a huge positive impact in their lives. Kindly supported by the Household Support Fund, the week was made accessible to everyone, supporting a total of 36 young people throughout the week!
We kicked things off with a visit to McDonald’s, before heading into the electric atmosphere of a live Megaslam wrestling show in the Theatre Royal. Heroes and villains clashed in the ring, entrances were met with roaring cheers, and the crowd quickly became part of the spectacle. There was chanting, clapping and plenty of wide-eyed moments as the action unfolded. For many, meeting the wrestlers afterwards was the cherry on top, turning larger-than-life characters into real-life memories.
After such a late finish at the theatre, it was a midday start the following day, starting the day at Burger King for lunch in Gunwharf Quays. We then settled in for a cosy afternoon at Vue Cinema, seeking shelter from the torrential rain to watch an animated adventure film, where we followed the journey of a goat chasing his dreams to become a famous basketball player. A huge thanks goes to The Keppel’s Head Hotel, who allowed us to retreat from the rain to enjoy some large jugs of cordial in their Nelson’s Bar, where some of our young people particularly enjoyed ringing the bell at the bar, with the staff thankfully finding it endearing.
Thursday delivered something truly ‘out of this world’ at Planet Ice. The adventure began with a trip across Portsmouth Harbour on the dockyard’s waterbus service to the Submarine Museum, adding a sense of adventure before we even reached the ice rink. Once on the ice, under the caring and reassuring supervision of our party host Maise, confidence grew with every lap. Some young people found their rhythm quickly, others took it step by step, supported by their friends; huge thanks to Maise and Toby who were both absolutely amazing with our young people. Maise showed off her incredible dancing skills on the ice, whilst Toby showed us his ice hockey skills by reaching full speed on the ice before stopping himself from crashing into the side just inches to spare; both so talented.
Friday turned up the energy another gear with a session at Exploria, with one hour on the trampolines followed by an hour in the play zone. We then walked to the Southsea Library, where they kindly allowed us to retreat from the cold weather and sit inside to enjoy our packed lunches. Friendly competition then took centre stage at the indoor adventure golf at Clarence Pier. There were celebratory cheers for hole-in-ones, dramatic near-misses and plenty of playful rivalry as groups made their way around the course.
We rounded off the week with a very special session at Player Ready VR in Fratton Road, with exclusive hire of the entire venue for over two hours of non-stop gaming action. With headsets on and controllers in hand, our young people stepped into a virtual world. Some raced at full throttle on the simulators, others explored fantasy landscapes or competed against each other in fast-paced challenges without accidentally bashing into any walls (which is always highly likely when wearing the headsets). It was a joy to watch confidence build as everyone discovered a game that suited them, cheering each other on from the sidelines between turns.
Across the week, what stood out most was the new friendships made and seeing the confidence grow every day. The shared experiences created memories that will be retold when returning to school this week. Portsmouth and the surrounding area became our playground, and our young people embraced every moment of it. We are so lucky to live where we do, even with the cold and wet weather throughout the week, we escaped without getting too wet and successfully found enough indoor activities to fill the week.
