I’ve learnt that I’m unstoppable whilst being here.
I’ve learnt not to listen to any negativity. And I get so much freedom from being out of my chair. That feeling of being out and experiencing what it is like to have nothing underneath you is just brilliant.
One.
Woo-hoo!
My name’s Francesca Dean, I’m 31, and I’m from Rossendale.
I’ve been coming here for 21 years now.
I love it because I feel like I can just be me, and I can meet so many other new people, and I just love the fact that there’s so many activities you can do, and they really push you to your limits as well. And it’s really surprising what you can do.
What I love about it as well is you focus on what you can do and a lot less on more of what you can’t do, because obviously I’ve been born with cerebral palsy.
My parents and my family, they have taught me that, yeah, you might have CP, but it doesn’t have you. So I think it’s really important you try and embody that no matter where you go, and the centre has definitely helped me do that. If the UK had more centres like this, then I think the world would be a better place because it’s so inclusive for all.
They just really embody that can-do attitude, which is something that you don’t really see in a lot of organizations surrounding disabilities. There’s still such a stigma.
We need to try and change that and get as many young people to access outdoor adventure as much as possible because it is so good for the physical body but the mind as well.
I love being on the big swing in the sports hall.
So you’re in a harness, then your whole group will pull you.
They’ll go, “Three, two, one,” and they’ll release it, and then you just fly right through the air.
Three, two, one.
It’s scary because you go all the way up to the top, but once you do it, it is so fun. I can’t tell you how amazing that is.
It has honestly changed my life.
Not just my life, but I think it’s changed my mum as well.
I think it gives her joy in seeing me achieve what she once thought was impossible. I hope that the government can take something as well by watching this because they think that disability is just a piece of paper. But there is so much more to that individual with the disability than meets the eye, and I think outdoor adventure just proves that.
If you’ve never been to Calvert before, I would say please just try it because you will be surprised by the amount of stuff that you can do.
Just try and make as many memories as possible.
Take your photo, record yourself doing activities as well because you’ll have these memories to look back on for a lifetime.
And just all the new achievements you’re going to make and the new friends as well and just don’t be scared.
Okay, Francesca.
Yep.
Are you ready?
Yep.
Are you sure?
Yep.
One.
Woo-hoo!
