Three peaks challenge for Summer School

Four men take on three mountains

Nick, Rich, Jack, and Steve are taking on three mountains in one weekend. They’ll be scaling the three highest peaks in the UK - Snowdon, Scafell Pike, and Ben Nevis - in just 24 hours over 26/27 June. They’re doing it to help fund a performing arts summer school for young people and adults in Hampshire who have learning disabilities.

Timetable

  • Saturday all day - driving to Ben Nevis

  • Sunday 6:00 - 11:00 - Ben Nevis

  • Sunday 11:00 - 17:00 - Driving

  • Sunday 17:00 - 21:00 - Scafell pike

  • Sunday 21:00 - 02:00 - Driving

  • Sunday 2:00 - 6:00 - Snowdon

A higher percentage of disabled people feel lonely compared with non-disabled people

People with a learning disability are seven times as likely as their non-disabled peers to be lonely, according to research from Mencap (December 2019). The summer holidays is a time when many people are out and about with friends doing things that often do not cater to people with a learning disability who may need extra support and time to access activities catering to their needs.

Holidays can cause some people to be lonely and anxious

For those used to term time organised activities, the holidays means not being able to keep up their daily routines, or attend classes and groups. This leads to a loss of confidence and, in some cases, increased anxiety.

This isolation was particularly acute during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 and the summer schools Blue Apple ran online and then in person really helped raise spirits and re-energise those who had suffered during lockdown.

Building on previous success

This year Blue Apple hopes to host a summer school in August introducing performing arts to young people and adults with learning disabilities and also offer more advanced enrichment skills to experienced performers with learning disabilities.

This is the feedback we received from last year’s summer school:

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