Last weekend Tom’s Trust held the first ever Tom’s Trust Better Together Camp. We took 15 girls aged between eight and 12 years old, all of whom are living with a brain tumour, to Calvert Lakes in the Lake District for a fun packed weekend full of opportunities to make friends and have new adventures. Members of the Tom’s Trust team were there, along with medical team volunteers and our clinical psychologist teams from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and the Great North Children’s Hospital. All of the girls in attendance have been treated at one of these hospitals and supported by our clinical psychology teams.
Why did we put this camp on?
Children diagnosed with brain tumours face numerous challenges, one of the most significant being the difficulty in forming and maintaining the friendships they would naturally have had in their community and schools due to missed school/play time, cognitive impairments and life-altering disabilities. Peer relationships are one of the most important factors in a child feeling valued and accepted and become even more important in approaching adolescence. Girls often face unique challenges in developing friendships, particularly at this sensitive time in their development, as social interactions become more complex and difficult to navigate. Having positive social experiences, like attending the Tom’s Trust Better Together Camp, will have the potential to help to change a child’s self-beliefs and increase self-esteem, providing a more solid foundation for future healthy relationships and emotional well-being.
What did the girls get up to?
Alongside the adventure of meeting the other girls and having sleepovers, the girls were offered the opportunity to try out horse riding, bushcraft, high ropes and zipwire activities. They also had other activities put on for them by our team such as a disco, crafting sessions and quieter reflection time.
What’s next?
Tom’s Trust hopes to be able to offer other camps in the future, including one for boys of a similar age next year, and in different regions. We know they offer a great chance for these children, who have been through so much, to learn, develop and gain confidence in a supportive and safe environment. We will be gathering feedback from the girls, volunteers, team and parents involved with this camp to learn how we can make the next Tom’s Trust Better Together Camp even bigger and better.
With thanks to our sponsor whose support enabled this incredible trip to happen.