Page 18 - Community Living Magazine 32 - 2

time off

Taking a real break

A holiday can be an important part of feeling equal to others, things differently, and enjoying being
and accepted and valued in society – and offer great human, accepted, loved and valued
opportunities for friendship and fun, says amanda Topps without the boundaries and infringement
of paid professional help.
On arrival at the lodge, the scene is set
eople with different abilities have My experience of over 20 years of for everyone to look out for and help each
been going on holiday together in taking part in holidays for people with other have a good time together. We work
Padapted lodges at a woodland disabilities is the equalising factor of in small groups to make meals, visit
village in England. spending good-quality time together. yes, places, have fun and take part in activities
What makes their experience different is I loved helping people, but I found that, such as swimming, archery, cycling, tenpin
that they have got together to support instead of experiencing a “do-good” bowling, pottery painting and boating.
each other to enjoy a fantastic break. mentality where I was charitably offering Popping into the lodge as a visitor, you
I have organised and led three of these to serve others, I gained far more may find someone asking someone else if
holidays, thanks to support from UK personally than I had expected. they have their raincoat or swim things or
charity Through the Roof, which works in I found a little piece of heaven on earth another person offering to carry someone
Britain and internationally with people – a personal time bank. The start of the else’s bag on their electric scooter.
who have disabilities. wealth I have stored in this bank were the One holidaymaker said: “I love to work
Sarah Jeal told me about her recent wonderful gifts of humour, grace and in a team to make sure a good time is had
experience on the holiday: “I love that we generosity that Greta Davies offered me, by all. I can’t do too much on a physical
all go as friends and everyone contributes when I nervously attempted to assist her level but verbally I can support people
something, making us all equals rather for the first time on my very first holiday, and spiritually and emotionally I enjoy
than ‘them and us’.” about 24 years ago. I practically offered doing this.”
She is supported via her local authority her my hands and feet. I stumbled and There is a holistic element to this way of
to live independently and to fund a tripped both physically and metaphorically holidaying, too. People can get much closer
personal assistant for a few hours each day. but, when I landed home exhausted and than in a situation where professional
What she discovered on the holiday was happy, what I’d learnt was that we all have care is given. It is not just about practical
a different way of living, which made her great gifts to offer each other. stuff; there is time to explore personal
feel valued and regarded as an equal. Those on the holidays have given as and spiritual issues and make friends.
The person who spent the most time much to me and more than I had given as Because they are on holiday, everyone
with her on the holiday was a friend, not a a volunteer. I made new friends. I felt is more relaxed. While each person has a
paid supporter. accepted. People told me I was good at holiday plan – a timetable of their chosen
things. This experience gave me insight activities – I saw people being flexible with
into why we all have equal value. their free time so they could support each
I felt loved, blessed and valued by other and enjoy someone’s company.
spending time with Davies. Other people It was refreshing to see selflessness,
on the holiday built me up and willingness and readiness to put plans aside
encouraged me to be a better person. I to help someone. We created a positive,
discovered my skills, my abilities and reciprocal environment where equality,
myself for the first time. humanity and friendship could flourish.
Jeal shares: “I think it is good to help Everyone went away wanting to know
each other, whether in a big way or a when the next holiday was. I went away
small way. Apart from helping anyone to wanting to know how to do this more. n
do something, it was also good just to talk
to and encourage people.” Amanda Topps welcomes enquiries about the
She, like me, saw the value in doing holidays. Email: amandatopps@hotmail.com

18 Vol 32 No 2 | Winter 2018 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk