The JYF grant had a direct and significant impact on our October Mega Weekend, enabling us to deliver a fully supported residential retreat for 30 young people. It ensured we could provide a safe, structured environment where participants accessed high-quality social, leisure, and recreational opportunities throughout the weekend, including group activities, themed experiences, sensory play, and outdoor sessions. Without this funding, we would not have been able to deliver the programme at this scale or level of inclusion.
Impact on young people:
• Young people who experience barriers to social participation were able to engage meaningfully with peers in a shared residential setting
•Participants developed new and strengthened friendships through group-based activities and shared experiences
•Young people had structured time away from daily routines, reducing isolation and providing a positive break in a supportive environment
•Participants accessed a range of recreational and sensory activities designed to meet different needs and abilities
•Young people experienced increased confidence in social settings through guided, supported participation
•Participants enjoyed a collective weekend experience built around inclusion, enjoyment, and shared leisure time
Overall, the funding enabled us to deliver accessible social and recreational provision that would otherwise not have been possible at this level.