We are thrilled to announce that as of 16 August 2021 our Residential Breaks at our Coastal Centre in Cornwall can finally restart. Children and young people across the UK, who are facing serious challenges in their lives, will be welcomed back with the chance for fun, friends, and new activities.
In March 2020, the pandemic forced us to close our Centres, which stopped us providing residential breaks for young people living in poverty, relying on food banks and living with serious day to day challenges including young carers, domestic violence and bereavement.
Earlier this year, following Government guidelines, we were able to open the Coastal Centre for Day Breaks. However, now that restrictions have been lifted, we’re looking forward to proving our full service once again that, for the past 29 years, has been a lifeline to over 16,000 young people in some of their hardest times.
Suzi McGoldrick, Director of Income Generation, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming children back for full residential Breaks. We’ve worked really hard to support children with Day Breaks when possible during the lockdowns but nothing beats the joy and positive impact of a Go Beyond stay.”
How are we preparing for Monday?
Go Beyond staff from the Centre, shops, and Head Office have been working hard to ensure the Coastal Centre is ready for the first group of young people to stay. They’ve rolled up their sleeves, brushed up on their knowledge of tools and carpentry, and got stuck in with painting, assembling furniture, and adding those finishing touches that help the children feel safe and happy.
Sarah Harrison, Director of Operations, says: “We are thrilled that Go Beyond is back and able to offer Residential Breaks once again. The Breaks team are ready to welcome the children back to the amazing Coastal Centre for a week of excitement and fun filled activities, where they can create new friendships, happy memories, and see their confidence grow during their week with us.”
What services have we provided the young people with this year?
As we were unable to provide our full Residential Breaks for most of this year, we worked hard to ensure there were other options for the children. An online resource know as ‘Go Beyond at Home‘ was created that included indoor and outdoor games, challenges, and stories, for when the country was in full lockdown.
To compliment this online resource, and once some restrictions were lifted, we were offering Day Breaks working with local schools identifying children who would benefit from a day at the centre. An offering that will be continued alongside Residential Breaks to further support children and young people.
Jeremy* is one of the young people who came along to a Day Break in July. He started the week very quiet and subdued and wouldn’t say anything until lunch time on his first day to both Break Leaders and peers. However, as the week went on Jeremy’s confidence grew and he came out of his shell more and more each day.
This newfound confidence helped him develop a new, great friendship with the other boy in the group. They become inseparable! It also gave him the push he needed to get involved in the Silly Olympics, he was a little reluctant to join in the fancy dress race at the end but soon came around to it and even posed for a picture with his friend in their funny outfits.
For Jeremy a Go Beyond Break was the opportunity to fly a kite for the first time, show his paining of Thor’s hammer off to his new friend, and lift the day-to-day weight of life off his shoulders while he jumped over the waves.
All Go Beyond Breaks are totally free-of-charge for the young people and they are filled with activities to encourage self-belief and inspire adventure.
How can you help us bounce back?
We still urgently need donations to help us to keep giving children, who live in such difficult circumstances, the confidence and life-changing experiences that make an incredible difference to their lives.
Volunteers are at the heart of Go Beyond’s work; they are the people who make everything possible. Want to inspire children to believe in a brighter future for themselves? Register your interest in volunteering by emailing: info@gobeyond.org.uk.
Donate today.
*Names and photos have been changed to protect identities.
