29 Jan 2025
Local schools are helping to get the word out about the upcoming REACH Across Spring Residentials
For REACH Across, the start of a new year means the start of a new recruitment drive for members. Ever since the first assembly in a snowy Thornhill College, we've had a massive interest from local young people wanting to get involved in our Spring residentials. We've even had our first trip to Deele College in Raphoe to promote the camps and the youth club.
What are the spring residentials?
From the end of February, we'll be sending groups of 25 young people on four different weekend residentials to Tobermore. These residentials are a brilliant opportunity to make new friends, try new things and create lasting memories!
How much do the residentials cost?
The residentials are £25 - this includes transport, food and activity costs for the whole weekend residential. As the spaces are limited, when invites are sent out the £25 will secure a spot for the young person.
What happens during the residentials?
Friday
Preparing for the first night of a weekend residential can be quite nerve wrecking - for some young people, it could be their first time away from home. When young people apply for the spring residentials, we ask to include the names of friends who are also applying. This is so we can try to make sure that everyone has at least one friend that is invited onto the same weekend residential.
Still, getting onto a bus with 20 or more strangers can still be quite intimidating. In recent years, we have had the young people meet up at the Holywell Trust building, where our club nights would take place, so they can take part in some introductions and ice breakers so the group are familiar with each other before getting on the bus.
Once at the centre, the volunteer leaders have a chat with the young people regarding what to expect from the camp and creating an agreed contract of rules to follow for the weekend, before finishing the night with some more teambuilding games.
Saturday
The day where all the fun happens! Saturdays during the residentials are packed with activities. A typical Saturday morning sees the group go to a local sports centre to play some games and sports e.g dodgeball, table tennis, badminton.
Once the Saturday warm-up is out of the way, groups in the past have taken part in a variety of different activities. Laser tag and assault courses with Escarmouche, bowling and mini golf at Airtastic, ice skating at Dundonald Ice Bowl or even a night at the SSE to watch the Belfast Giants! If the group aren't ready for their bed after that long day, there would usually be big group games such as Mafia or Empire to close out Saturday.
Sunday
Sunday wraps up a busy weekend with a quick tidy up of the centre, evaluation of how the weekend went and some forward planning with the group - upcoming opportunities that they can sign up for and more information about the weekly goings on at REACH Across club nights and after school drop-in sessions.
What do I need for the residential?
We will post out the residential information packs that will include a summary of the weekend activities, a parental consent form and information for making a payment to secure a place on the residential.
Old clothes, a towel and toiletries are usually what's needed for the weekends, but if anything else is needed it will be in the information pack. Other than a possible shop stop on the Saturday, you won't need to bring much spending money.
