Home away from home: Haines House's Easter trip to Scotland
This Easter, the young people and staff at Haines House, one of the Together Trust's residential homes, took a trip to Whithaugh Park, a breathtaking outdoor activity centre nestled in the serene Scottish borders around Newcastleton.
Tucked among rolling hills, this idyllic location with its array of sites and activities is an ideal, outdoor haven for autistic children. It has grown into a much-anticipated retreat for the young people at Haines House, who lovingly call it their "Holiday House", and for two of them, it feels like a second home.
"Our children love to go there. It is a wonderful thing to provide our young people with the experience of anticipation, and we spend so much time in the build-up talking about what we did last time and what we will do when we get there. This year one of the young people had a 47-day countdown to the leaving date… he even had a countdown to picking up the mini bus from Inscape," shares Kevin Clarke, Registered Manager at Haines House.
The centre offers a range of diverse activities, including canoeing, archery, gorge walking, and a thrilling zip wire, all of which our children enthusiastically participate in, testing their courage and resilience. The centre's offerings extend beyond adrenaline-inducing activities, fostering a sense of exploration and appreciation for nature.
The children enjoy adventures amidst the forest, streams, and hills, culminating in the tradition of roasting marshmallows over an open fire while sharing stories from the day's escapades.
"It is a great credit to the staff team here that so many of them are happy to take time away from home to support us each time we go. I think they enjoy it as much as the children do."
