Access Adventure provides breaks for young people in crisis

We forge partnerships that benefit participants and their loved ones

We provide a safe and supportive Lakeland experience

Fundraise for us

Access Adventure:
Short Breaks for Young People in Crisis

We believe The Lakes should be accessible to everyone. In Winter 2022/23, we partnered with the NHS to deliver an outdoor and sensory activities short break service for children and adults with Autism and / or Learning Disability in North Cumbria.

Over the course of a 10 week pilot scheme followed by a 12 week season, we successfully gave respite to families, as well as providing the individuals with stimulating activities promoting health and wellbeing.

We’re now looking to launch our Winter 2024/25 short breaks programme starting November 2024.

Don’t take our word for it…

Hear first hand from participants and families who have benefited from the pilot scheme. Like what you hear? Read to find out more about the scheme, upcoming dates and how you can make a referral.

Upcoming Course Dates 2024/25

Ages 8 – 13 Years

Every Saturday
23 November -14 December

Every Sunday
19 January – 9 February

Every Saturday
15 February – 8 March

Ages 14 – 17 years

Every Sunday
24 November – 15 December

Every Saturday
18 January – 8 February

Every Sunday
16 February – 9 March

Make a Referral

Participants

We take referrals for children and young people, aged 8 – 17, in crisis. Our service offers these individuals accessible adventure and challenging fun in the outdoors. Family members and carers are welcome to join or simply take time out for their own much-needed respite.

Activities

With over 40 years experience of delivering accessible outdoor adventure, we are able to offer a diverse range of activities tailored to inviduals’ requirements. These may include Bushcraft, Lakeland Walk, Orientering and Swimming.

Find out more

Calvert Trust Essential Equipment Our Fleet Of Vans

Transport

Cumbria covers a large geographical area. We understand the barriers accessible and affordable transport can pose to participants and their familes. That’s why each Access Adventure course provides minibus transport from one geographical location with some additional taxi transport available to participants.

Feedback so far

The Acces Adventure Pilot Scheme had overwhelmingly positive feedback:

100% rated the project as Good or Excellent.
100% rated the activity provision as Good or Excellent.
100% stated that they would come on this course again if it was available.

Need to know

The scheme is for children and young people aged 8-17 years living in North Cumbria who have a diagnosis of Learning Disability and / or Autism.
Referrals can only be made via the child / young person’s social worker or Learning Disability/ Autism health team or other healthcare professional.
Siblings are welcome to attend by prior arrangement, subject to availability. However parents / adult care givers are responsible for the care and supervision of any siblings.
Please note that only the children / young people referred as participants will be prioritised for transport.

Donate

“Feedback from both BB and staff that supported was always brilliant for this scheme for both the scheme staff and the activities provided. It was especially helpful to us as a service that transport was provided as there were occasions when we would not have been able to facilitate the sessions without this.

I would highly recommend this scheme to others and would have a number of service users to refer in if the opportunity came up again!”

“As a referrer everything went well and the communication was good. The lifts were sorted for F and K which was great. After the initial referral, Calvert Trust took the lead which saved me a lot of time which was excellent.”

“Absolutely essential to families wellbeing. Not possible to normally access refreshing recreation activities due to child’s disabilities.”

“The staff were amazing and very accommodating to our needs. They made sure everyone felt welcome and comfortable with the activities. They were the perfect amount of understanding when struggling with an activity but also pushing us to make sure we at least tried somethingbefore deciding we didn’t want to do it.”

“The transport to and from the centre was practically perfect, the buses were comfortable and felt very secure. The employees who drove us were very careful when driving and did not make me feel uncomfortable at any point, they were always very punctual despite me being the last to pick up and last to drop off.”