19 Aug Triple Ts Youth Club visits Hucklow
The Triple Ts Annual Trip to Hucklow (Derbyshire) took place this July, with a troop of 25 children aged 8-15 spending an exciting week away from home. Supported by a team of two staff and four volunteers, the group got to experience the great outdoors, visit local attractions and take part in lots of activities and adventures.
Many of the children have difficult home lives as young carers, have witnessed domestic violence or are from low-income households. A large majority are referred to the youth clubs through Child Social Care, local Schools or through Southend’s Early Help service.
Many of the children would not normally have the opportunity to have a holiday like this or the chance to venture far from Southend due to financial constraints or a parent’s ability to provide this type of holiday. The trip is made possible each year thanks to the kind donation of the ‘Send a Child to Hucklow’ charity.
Each year, the children stay in a converted World War II rehabilitation hospital called The Nightingale Centre. Nestled in rolling fields in the Derbyshire countryside, they are treated to luxury dorms, their own activity hall and tasty meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The first full day of the holiday saw the Triple Ts take part in a scavenger hunt in the woods, followed by a trip to Hathersage Swimming Pool and then an evening of crafts and games.
On the Wednesday, the group visited Matlock Farm with its animals, pony rides and meerkat feeding.
On Thursday the group visited Chatsworth House. The children absolutely love this trip as there is so much to see and do there including an adventure playground, souvenir shop, mini farm and the famous landscaped gardens.
Throughout the holiday the children enjoyed a couple of movie nights. This is when they can get into their pyjamas, take a pillow down to the hall and enjoy a hot chocolate with marshmallows.
On the final evening it is Hucklow tradition for us to host a Triple T’s got talent show. This year was no exception and we had an array of acts from singing, dancing, comedy and even the panel of judges joined in by dressing up in fancy dress. This is always a very special part of the holiday and one which always brings a tear to the eye of the leaders as we see children who are normally painfully shy or anxious taking part, we see new friendships that have blossomed throughout the holiday and we see children encouraging each other to join in. This is also a time when we get to share what we have most enjoyed about the week. The children all receive a certificate for attending and it is also tradition for them to each receive a Turning Tides t-shirt with Hucklow 2019 on the back, which the children love.
