An independent school in Liphook has once again held its holiday camp for children with learning disabilities.
Highfield and Brookham Schools, which educates children aged 2–13, have held Highfield Highreach Holidays every summer since 2016.
Twelve months on from a curtailed programme of activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the week-long residential course was back to its usual schedule of activities this year.
The group of 20 young children aged 8–16 took part in archaeology at Butser Ancient Farm, took a trip around the cosmos at Winchester Planetarium, visited the beach at Littlehampton and became thrill seekers at Chessington World of Adventures.
Activities held at the independent school included a talent show, ‘alien Olympics’ and rocket making.
Highfield and Brookham Schools raise funds throughout the year to cover more than half of the cost of the holiday camp to keep costs low for families, while all the staff are volunteers.
This year, 24 Old Highfieldians returned to their former prep school to volunteer for the week, and they were joined by seven pupils from Churcher’s College in Petersfield, who were providing key support as part of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme work.
Highfield School headmaster, Phillip Evitt, said: “We teach our pupils to give back and to be outward looking, and never is this more tangible than during our extraordinary Highfield Highreach Holidays where we again saw two dozen of our Old Highfieldians volunteer to help out.
“To witness the sheer joy of the children during such a brilliant week was truly heart-warming and leaves me full of delight for the children here on holiday with us and full of heartfelt admiration for the many volunteers who happily give up their time to ensure the week runs smoothly and is a big success.”
“Highfield Highreach Holidays also provides necessary respite for the children’s carers, who do such an amazing job.”
