With financial help from the Minton Trust, UKSA welcome Beacon View Primary School for a residential adventure

Published 01/04/2022

The inspirational five-day residential programme is designed to give youngsters the opportunity to experience a wide range of water-based activities. Through these activities, participants will build key life skills such as resilience, communication, self-belief and more. We caught up with Headteacher Sally Hodgson on how the trip has had a positive impact on the young attendees.

What were the highlights of your trip?

The main highlights from the trip was seeing the development of the children across the week, seeing them grow in confidence and develop skills that the didn’t realise they had, whilst also conquering their fears along the way.

What change, if any, have you seen in the young people during this programme?

We’ve seen many changes in the children. These included building greater confidence, achieving higher levels of co-operation and being more prepared to jump in and have a go.

Do you think that the young people are leaving UKSA feeling more confident?

Absolutely, they stand taller and have achieved things they didn’t think was possible.

“With the guidance and encouragement from the UKSA instructional staff, our children were able to experience new challenges and to be successful. They have grown in self belief and confidence and have become more independent. They are still buzzing in school this morning!” – Alison Cass – Beacon View Primary School Teaching Assistant

How important was the funding for your residential trip?

We are truly grateful for the funding which allowed us to bring 43 children to UKSA. Our families would not have been able to afford the trip without this sponsorship as some would have had to choose between food, heating and the trip.

During your trip, was there a particular individual who would normally struggle to take part in a trip like this?

On the very first day of our trip, ne child really struggled to get into the water and to trust that her buoyancy aid would keep her afloat. One of the watersports instructors, Dave took the time to let her achieve this at her own pace and opened up all the possibilities of the water to her for the whole of the rest of the week.