You may remember reading about Broadview’s Monday Night Club earlier this year but if you haven’t heard about it, let us fill you in. Led by our team at Broadview, one of our specialist autism services in Hampshire, the Monday Night Club was created to bring autistic people together while embracing fun activities; empowering the people we support to gain confidence and make new friends.
The club has been a huge success, so our team wanted to take things a step further. They decided to organise a fun holiday for members of the club, including people we support from Broadview and nearby services, giving everyone the chance to enjoy new experiences and spend time together in a different setting.
Turning a dream into reality
Alison Murray, Service Manager at Broadview, had always dreamed of taking the people we support on a group holiday. So, when she proposed the idea with the team, they eagerly began exploring suitable locations that would meet the needs of the people we support.
From the start, they ensured the people we support were given the opportunity to be involved in planning. In total, 13 adventurous individuals wanted to get involved – and they couldn’t quite believe they had such an exciting opportunity! They helped to weigh up location options, eventually agreeing on a trip to Hayling Island Holiday Park.
To keep everyone comfortable and to avoid disruption to routines, the holiday was planned for three days. Once everything was booked, everyone couldn’t wait for the trip and eagerly counted down the days!
A holiday milestone
It wasn’t long before the big day arrived and the people we support along with, 12 members of our team set off for their holiday.
When they arrived, time was taken to help the people we support settle in and get used to their new surroundings.
To help everyone feel comfortable, our team put together an activity planner and scheduled mealtimes and where they’d be eating. The people we support enjoyed many exciting activities, such as visiting the Donkey Sanctuary, Hayling Island, and Southsea fun fair.
Our specialist team at Broadview also ensured there were opportunities for quiet time, and each person only took part in activities they felt comfortable doing.
The holiday has helped everyone grow in confidence and build meaningful relationships with each other.
Alison Murray, Service Manager
The holiday was a huge success. Everyone had an amazing time, made incredible memories together and savoured every moment. The people we support smiled, laughed and came out of their shells. Our team also felt so much pride seeing the people we support embrace every minute and navigate the changes that come with going on holiday.
Given the challenges autistic people face, such as sensory overload, and anxiety in social situations, the people we support have accomplished so much. Our support is enabling them to break down barriers and live the fulfilling lives they deserve.
What’s next?
Since their group holiday, Broadview’s Monday Night Club has continued to bring everyone together. The people we support love socialising and are building lasting social skills and relationships with each other.
More regular social events between the people we support at Broadview and other services have enabled everyone to stay connected and they’re already planning their next holiday, with talk of it becoming an annual event.
For the team, seeing the people we support grow in confidence, embrace new experiences, and create lasting memories is a reminder of just how far they’ve come and how opportunities like this can truly create fulfilling lives.
Learn more about our specialist support!
Head over to our dedicated page to learn more about our life-changing, specialist autism support.
Here you can read the latest news, blog posts and views from our staff, the people we support and their families at our services across the UK.
