Introduction to the Camps

We organise a range of holidays for children and young adults at activity centres and hotels in the UK. Despite our name, none of the Camps are under canvas!

We run three main types of Camps:

• Camps for disabled and able-bodied children

• Camps for people with multiple disabilities

• Camp for children with Autism

We run four holidays for disabled and able-bodied people:

• Junior (8 to 10 years)

• Senior (11 to 13 years)

• Venture (14 and 15 years)

• 18+ (young adults)

We aim to encourage integration so these Camps have half disabled and half able-bodied children. They operate on a ratio of one volunteer helper for every two children. The activities on these Camps may include swimming, horse riding, raft building, quad biking, and sailing as well as trips to the sea and theme parks.

Here are a few snippets from previous Camp's activities:

Activities included a visit to the zoo, a day of water sports on Carsington Reservoir, horse riding, a treasure hunt and a midnight walk.….The final nights 'Stars in their eyes' extravaganza included renditions of Celine Dion, Ronan Keating and Eric Clapton……The whole Camp was split into four teams of aliens from distant planets……During the week they also produced a magnificent star and moon backdrop and colourful alien costumes…..Despite the rain, everyone joined in raft building (you're going to get wet anyway), abseiling, the zip wire and a trip to Lightwater Valley theme park….A particular favourite was a take on the 'Ready, Steady, Cook!' programme.

We run three holidays for people with multiple disabilities

• Breakfree 1 (8 to 18 years)

• Breakfree 2 (8 to 18 years)

• Freedom

These Camps are for children and young adults with severe physical and learning disabilities. They operate on a ratio of one and a half volunteer helpers for each child and no able-bodied children attend. The activities on these Camps include many of those on the other Camps such as swimming and horse riding but are approached at a more relaxed pace.

• PACE (8 to 14 years)

PACE (PHAB's Autistic Camp at Easter) is for people with severe Autism. It operates with a ratio of two volunteer helpers for each person with Autism and takes place over the Easter weekend. This year's Camp is for 4 children.

Who runs the Camps?

The holidays are run by groups of volunteers, including an experienced leader and a qualified nurse who takes responsibility for all medical matters. They join in all the activities as well as providing all the care the children require. Volunteers are there to enable the children to join in the holidays as equals and to encourage integration.

Where are the holidays held?

We stay in a variety of places from Yorkshire to Hampshire, Wales to Scotland and sometimes abroad. We go to youth hostels, purpose built sites and outdoor activity centres.

For more details of the locations of the Camps this year, see the sites page.  

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