This week Ealing Mencap’s customers stepped out of city life and into the woods for the My Town residential at Walton Firs Activity Centre.

Day 1

After a goodbye to parents and an hour journey to Cobham, Surrey, four My Town customers and three members of Ealing Mencap staff arrived at Walton Firs Activity Centre. Everyone quickly got stuck in and set up camp in our cosy glamping pods. 

Walton Firs Glamping Pod

After fuelling up on packed lunches, the activities began! The young people tested their skills in precision and patience during air-rifle shooting, learning how to load air-rifles and practise their aim with help from Walton Firs activity leaders. 

Rifle Shooting

Next up, climbing! The young people dug deep and found their courage as they bravely tackled the climbing wall. Customers showed strength and determination as they successfully climbed up the wall. It can’t go unsaid that the encouraging atmosphere where everyone supported one another made it all the more easier to tackle the challenge. 

Climbing

After a busy afternoon of activities, the young people sat together and ate dinner, which was the exciting treat of pizza from Dominos! 

Dominos for dinner!

Well-fed, we got ready for the night time entertainment. Ealing Mencap staff put together a Neon Disco. Staff and customers made headbands, necklaces and bracelets out of glow sticks. We played games, sang and danced to our favourite songs, finishing the day off in style! 

Glow stick party

Day 2 

Everyone slept cosily through the night and filled up on breakfast provided by Walton Firs, before preparing for the final activity. 

We then headed into the woods and learnt survival skills for den making in the wilderness. The young people worked together to build a den good enough to sleep in! (Although none of them seemed too keen on the idea!) 

Bushcraft

After more team building games and a delicious lunch, we packed our bags into the mini-bus and headed back to Enterprise Lodge to be reunited with the parents. What an amazing adventure we all had! 

The young people showed so much enthusiasm about the residential but I’ll let them do the talking. Click the video to find out what they thought. 

Watch here 

Lastly, a huge thank you to Walton Firs Foundation who have accommodated Ealing Mencap for the second year running.  

Walton Firs Foundation is a registered charitable trust based in Cobham, Surrey. The aim of the trust is to hold, improve and maintain the Walton Firs Activity Centre, for the use, education and enjoyment of continuing generations of young people. Walton Firs delivers outdoor education programmes for children and young people aged between 5 and 18, in partnership with uniformed and informal youth service, education, early years, and children’s social care providers from across Surrey, London and the Home Counties. The primary aim is to engage all young persons in positive activities in the natural environment, irrespective of  prior experience, skills, ability or confidence. www.waltonfirs.co.uk 

My Town 

If you are interested in Ealing Mencap’s My Town service for young people with learning disabilities, aged 13-17 and want to find out more click here.