Trust’s annual trip to Stubbers

The Sycamore Trust’s annual trip to Stubbers Adventure Centre in Essex took place last week and it was a great success!

Around 40 young people took part throughout the week in a series of activities aimed at helping them to improve their social and communication skills and to build self-esteem.  The charity, which has a unit in the Liberty Centre in Romford, helps families and individuals with autism and their week at Stubbers was helped enormously by the sunshine we enjoyed last week.  

The young people aged 8-18 thoroughly enjoyed taking part in activities that they would not normally have access to, including off-road driving, skateboarding, climbing, canoeing, archery, paddle boarding and shooting.  As well as boosting the communication abilities that are often found to be lacking in young people with autism, these activities also help to teach those vital team building and listening skills that are so important in adult life.

The Sycamore Trust U.K. has been taking young people with ASD to Stubbers for two decades and so many of them have matured and developed into wonderful young adults making a contribution to their families and communities.  Some of them even come back to volunteer!

Some of the youngsters come for the day, while others stay for the week.  Emma Marston, from Rise Park, Havering, sent her son Sam, 16,  to Stubbers for the whole week with the Sycamore Trust. 

Emma, 44, said; “Sam always look forward to his week at Stubbers .  He gets to enjoy new experiences and makes new friends as well as having lots of fun.  At the end of the week, he comes back full of confidence”

Planning for the annual trip began months ago and Sycamore’s senior project manager Jean Rayner is responsible for bringing it all together.  She said; “Once again, it was a wonderful week and we were delighted that so many young people attended.  It’s  especially pleasing to see how some of the young people who have been coming for a few years now have matured into responsible young adults and the youngsters who attended for the first time experienced a boost to their confidence, self-esteem and communication as well as learning vital team building skills so important in adult life.  We’re already looking forward to next year!!”