After 15 action-packed days spread across the summer holidays, the Portsmouth Teenage Project has now come to the end of another hugely successful summer programme.
Delivered by Enable Ability, the programme gave young people with disabilities and additional needs the opportunity to get out into the community, try new experiences, use public transport, build friendships and, perhaps most importantly, have a summer filled with memories that they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to have.
Across the summer, young people took part in a varied programme of activities and experiences. From travelling across to the Isle of Wight and enjoying days out by the coast, to visiting museums, cinemas, arcades and historic attractions, train journeys as far out as Lymington, cycle training on the roads (huge thanks to Pompey Pedals for providing the bikes), exploring Portsmouth’s heritage and trying physical challenges; there was something different to look forward to throughout the holiday.
The programme included visits and activities involving organisations and venues including Lymington Sea Water Swimming Baths, On Your Bike Cycle Training, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire Service, Hovertravel, Warhammer Southampton, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Onboard RIBs, Hilsea Lido, Ninja Warrior, the Titanic Museum in Southampton, Vue Cinema, South Coast Wakepark, Watercress Line Steam Railway and many more.
A particularly important part of the programme was the opportunity for young people to develop skills and confidence outside of their usual routines. Travel training, community activities and opportunities to try something for the first time encouraged young people to become more independent and comfortable in different environments. For some, simply getting on public transport, visiting a new venue or joining in with an unfamiliar activity represented a significant personal achievement.
The programme was specifically tailored around the needs of young people with disabilities and additional needs. Before attending, individual care plans were prepared so staff could understand each young person’s needs, communication style, triggers, support requirements and any adaptations that might be necessary. This allowed the team to tailor their approach throughout the programme and create an environment where young people could participate in a way that worked for them.
The impact of this approach could be seen throughout the summer. Young people who were initially reluctant to engage gradually became more confident, formed new friendships and became increasingly willing to try different activities. For some young people, progress was not about completing a particular activity, but about feeling comfortable enough to attend, spend time with others and take another small step towards greater confidence and independence.
Healthy food was also an important part of the programme thanks to Cafe Victory based at Landport Community Centre. Nutritious packed lunches were provided on the majority of days, with wraps, salad, fruit, vegetables, yoghurt, juice and water included. Where breakfast was provided instead, healthier options were available alongside the typical beige breakfast items. The team also worked closely with families to accommodate individual dietary preferences and restrictive diets wherever possible.
The success of the programme wouldn’t have been made possible without the support provided through the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme and Portsmouth City Council. HAF provides funded holiday activities for eligible children and young people, helping families who may otherwise struggle with the additional financial pressures of the school holidays. The programme is particularly valuable during the longer summer break, when families can face increased costs associated with food, childcare, activities and keeping children and young people active and engaged.
For families of young people with disabilities and additional needs, those pressures can be even greater. Finding suitable, accessible activities that provide the right level of support can be challenging, while the cost of attending activities over several weeks can quickly become significant. HAF funding helps remove some of these financial barriers and enables young people to access enriching experiences, nutritious food and opportunities to socialise without the full cost falling on their families.
This summer, 179 HAF-funded places were awarded to those aged 11-15 years old with Enable Ability. Places were carefully managed through Enable Ability’s own booking process, allowing families to identify the activities their young person was most interested in attending. Where activities became oversubscribed, a reserve list helped ensure that funded spaces were not unnecessarily left unused.
The team would like to extend a huge thank you to HAF and Portsmouth City Council for the financial support that made the programme possible for the majority of the young people who attended. Their funding has helped provide much more than simply somewhere to go during the school holidays. It has helped create opportunities for young people to experience new places, develop confidence, meet friends, learn new skills and enjoy activities in an environment designed around their needs.
A huge thank you must also go to all of the local businesses, venues, transport providers, organisations and activity providers who contributed to the programme throughout the summer. The willingness of so many organisations to work with Enable Ability and help make activities accessible played a huge part in creating such a diverse programme. A special mention goes to Pete’s Airlink who provided a minibus service and driver to both Alresford and Thornhill, two really difficult areas to get to if we didn’t have the luxury of a complementary minibus service gifted to us by the team at Pete’s Airlink, thank you.
And, of course, the biggest thank you goes to the young people themselves. Their enthusiasm, persistence and willingness to try new things made the summer what it was. From those who jumped straight into every activity and to those who needed a little more time, reassurance and encouragement, every young person brought something different to the programme.
The 15 days may have flown by, but the experiences, friendships and confidence gained along the way will hopefully last much longer.
The summer programme may be finished, but the memories certainly aren’t.
