News
Outward Bound Trip for the Disability Programme
Thursday 17 April 2008
On Sunday 6th April, 2008 ten intrepid explorers set off on an ‘adventure of a lifetime’ to Ullswater Outward Bound Centre in the Lake District. The group consisted of young people who had various disabilities ranging from learning difficulties, autism and one wheelchair user.
The adventure began by boarding the Stena HSS in Belfast and spending two hours exploring the boat and having lunch. It was then a three hour bus to the centre but we were kept entertained by various renditions of popular songs. We had a late dinner in Pooley Bridge before heading back to the centre for an early night so that we could be refreshed for the weeks' activities ahead of us.
Our activities began first thing on Monday morning with a jog and dip in Ullswater Lake which was definitely a wake-up call and a refreshing way to start the day for us all. We then headed back to have a quick shower to warm up and change into some dry clothes in order to spend some time getting to know each other through lots of fun team games. Lunch everyday was a packed lunch at the centre which consisted of sandwiches, fruit and biscuits.
That afternoon we headed back to the lake again although this time we were to be in canoes, so therefore staying dryer and warmer. It was a stunning afternoon with the sun reflecting off the lake and the snow on the mountains. The group definitely deserved their dinner for all the hard work that they had put into paddling the canoes. After dinner it was off out again, ‘no rest for the wicked’. This time we hopped into the bus and headed off for an evening walk.
It wasn’t too hard to get the group into bed after such a fun packed day of activities.
Tuesday started off another sunny day and a good cooked breakfast was had by all to keep the energy levels up for the day ahead. Our first activity was the trapeze, so needless to say there were a few nerves climbing up the ladder and the pole, but everyone gave it a go, no matter how far they got to. After lunch we then had to get wetsuits and buoyancy aids on as the group were going for a gorge walk. It took quite some time to equip everyone will all the necessary clothing and I think by the end everyone was roasting and happy to jump into a freezing cold river.
We took Naomi in her wheelchair up the track above the gorge so that she could look down and see what the rest of the group was doing below. We didn’t stay to long in the river as it was bitter cold and we needed to head back for that nice warm shower and dinner. After dinner it was then time to pack rucksacks for the overnight expedition that we were heading out on the following day.
Bags were packed with the essentials, tents sorted, boots waxed and all was ready. Our group was doing the morning meeting the next day so some prep work had to be done for this.
Wednesday morning started off with the group doing the morning meeting in front of everyone else that was staying at the centre. Each person took it in turns to tell everyone what they had done so far at the centre, or what their hobby was, or just a little about whom we were and where we had come from. The meeting was finished off with a weather forecast for the day. It was then time to get organized for our 4.5 mile canoe expedition down Lake Ullswater. Another lovely day although slight head winds made progress down the lake slow and by this stage in the week a few people were feeling tired. Our overnight camp was based in Sty Farm and ration packs were on the menu for dinner. Tents were erected by the young people with a little help from staff and after a short evening walk it was a case of getting into the tents and in the sleeping bags in order to keep warm.
The next morning started off damp but it wasn’t to long until the sun came out which helped for taking down camp and packing rucksacks and tents away again. The group then walked to the Ullswater steamer which we boarded in Glenridding and got off in Howtown. We were picked up in Howtown by the Outward Bound speedboat and it was a fast journey back to the Centre with one of the young people at the wheel. Back at the centre we had the job of sorting out gear and having a well deserved shower and lunch.
After lunch we went to the indoor climbing wall at Keswick were everyone tried a number of climbs over the couple of hours that we were there. The climbing was enjoyed by all and the journey back in the bus was very quite as everyone was so knackered from their expedition. That evening we had a bonfire and the group got to cook marshmallows over the fire before enjoying their final night socializing with the rest of the groups in the Centre. Each of the young people gave an evaluation on their experiences over the week to the instructors and then they were presented with well deserved certificates.
Friday morning was a case of packing bags, tidying the rooms and saying our goodbyes, and then it was off up the road again to the HSS and the final adventure home.
The young people and ourselves would like to say a ‘Big Thank you’ to the Northern Ireland and the UK Outward Bound Associations and to Stena Line for their generous support which made this course such a success.
