I Love Family Camp

Join LimbPower at one of the UK’s flagship camps for children and young people with limb difference and their families.

Who is it for?

The #ICan Camp is for the whole family of a child or young person with an amputation or Limb Difference between 4 years old and 16 years old. The whole family is invited to join us with mums, dads, siblings and even the odd grandparent taking the plunge on the zip wire, racing through the trees! The #ICan Family Camp programme has supported over 100 children since we launched the camps in 2019.

Why camps?

Children and young people with limb loss and limb difference face many barriers in life and can struggle with key transitions, such as starting school, moving schools and the inevitable move into higher education and the workplace. rehabilitation. The camps were created to meet the need to support children and young people with an amputation or congenital limb difference on their life-long rehabilitation journey.

Camps are the best way to engage the whole family in exercise in a fun, enjoyable, safe and inclusive way. Camps support the development of independence, social skills, self-discipline and support a healthy mind. Children with limb difference often feel excluded from these types of activities, not at #ICan Camp, everything is designed around including the child with limb difference, siblings and mum and dad!.

What is the #ICan Camp?

#ICan Family Camp was created as a collaboration between several charities and organisations and managed by LimbPower. However, as times got tough for charities during Covid-19 our partners were forced to reconsider their involvement. LimbPower knew how important these camps are and we put together our 'pay-it-forward' scheme. Each camp fundraises for the camp the following year - this is such a great way to offer camp and gives children some ownership of being part of the #ICan Family, we all look after each other.

LimbPower delivers adventure activities such as climbing, abseiling, high ropes, canoeing and paddle boarding for these young people to aid their physical, social and psychological well-being. There is a focus on building resilience, confidence, self-esteem, and self-efficacy to reduce isolation through making friends and establishing relationships with healthcare professionals who will support them through their lifelong rehabilitation.

Each #ICan Family Camp is planned meticulously keeping the whole family’s safety, mental well-being, physical activity and social interaction at the core. Not only will you get to experience, canoeing, climbing, the much-loved zip wire and SUP activities but you will make lifelong friends and get advice from the professionals, a chance to ask those questions that you have.

All staff and volunteers at the #ICan Family Camp have completed an enhanced and up-to-date DBS check and our coaches are fully qualified and experienced in working with amputee and limb different children. We even have a fully qualified physiotherapist, prosthetist and psychotherapist attending camp. We know that families find this professional advice and support invaluable and more importantly we know that your families are being well looked after in a safe environment.

Each family has a designated bedroom for some peace, the rest of the time, everyone eats together, socialises together and plays together. Hide and Seek has become quite famous and there always seems to be a fun game on the go. All the young people enjoy the chance to wander down through the woods to enjoy the campfire, with many moments of laughter and singing while toasting marshmallows before heading off to bed ready for the next day of activities and fun. This is not weather-dependent, as the young attendees insist on this even in the middle of a downpour, so please bring wellies!

Where is camp in 2024?

#ICan Family Camp will be held in the beautiful Brecon Beacons at a well-established Outdoor Education Activity Centre, that has been running for over 60 years. With fully insured, qualified and trained staff, all with first aid experience we know we are in safe hands. In fact, Longtown Outdoor Learning Trust offers an Educational Visit Advisory Service across the country and the head of the centre is not only a qualified teacher but is also an Accredited Practitioner of the Institute for Outdoor Learning and a member of the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres.

When is the next camp?

The next #ICan Family Camp 2024 in the spring is already full, with a full waiting list. Contact carly@limbpower.com to find out when the next registration will be.

“#ICan Family Camp was amazing, we got some great advice, made some lovely friends and had lots of fun. I felt safe with all the professionals, as a mum of a child with a disability I worry all the time about things going wrong, it was reassuring to have so many professionals and qualified people on hand.” Mum of a family who attended #ICan Family Camp.

LimbPower has managed the #ICan #YouCan #WeCan project since 2017, this project concentrates on what everyone can do, not what they can’t.

If your family are interested in joining one of the #ICan Family Camps please contact carly@limbpower.com.

Have you seen #ICan Teen Camp, a fully inclusive camp for secondary school-age children and a friend or sibling?

Our thanks go to everyone who has supported #ICan Family Camp including Limbless Association, Koalaa, Starworks, Steps, Eclectic Coaching, Longtown Outdoor Education Centre, Rombouts, Opcare, Ottobock, Fletchers Foundation, Blatchfords and many others.