Eurocamp Residential Review - Paris 2023

O PREPARATION

ver February half term we held two back-toback sleepovers so that the young carers had a chance to get to know each other. The first group arrived on Friday night at Queen Charlotte’s Wood Scout Camp and explored the building and the bedrooms they would be sharing. All the young carers were divided into the groups they would be staying with in the lodges in Paris, before competing in a Disney themed quiz. After dinner there was a campfire with lots of toasted marshmallows and an extremely late night as all the young carers were too busy chattering!

The following morning was spent making crafts, completing a scavenger hunt around the campsite, and playing lots of different board games. After lunch group two arrived and groups pulled their team names out of a hat. During the afternoon there was a visit from Lady Redmond, MBE, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire and her husband Sir Phil Redmond, CBE, to our respite adventure where they talked with young carers, observed them creating models of the Eiffel Tower out of straws and chatted to staff and volunteers supporting the event. After a quick photo call with the whole group, it was time for group one to return home, leaving group two to carry on with the rest of their activities. There was just as much chatter on Saturday night!

The menu for the weekend was French themed, with croissants for breakfast, baguettes with a variety of continental meats to try at lunch time and a choice of beef or chicken casseroles for dinner. We also discovered lots of delicious French biscuits and cakes.

During the Easter holidays this year, fifty young carers from Cheshire East and West had the opportunity to take the trip of a lifetime, thanks to funding from Eurocamp. Staying in lakeside lodges at La Croix du Vieux Pont, our young carers enjoyed time at the campsite- swimming, bowling, playing on the adventure playground, taking part in laser tag, and eating delicious meals at the on-site restaurant. They also experienced a magical day at Disneyland Paris- going on rides, watching parades, exploring the Sleeping Beauty Castle, and meeting the characters- all whilst spending time with friends old and new. Following the trip, our staff had some wonderful feedback- one young carer even said, ‘the whole time away has honestly been magical, it has changed my life.’ As you read this report and take a look at all of the wonderful photographs, it’s clear to see that this certainly was an experience that these young carers will remember forever.

TEAM 1 ARISTOCATS H

ow appropriate that during our trip, a member of team Aristocats lost their tooth, as, legend has it that children in France who lose their teeth are visited by a little mouse who fetches the lost tooth from underneath their pillow and replaces it with coins! This time around, the little mouse even left a note for our ‘cat’- what a brave mouse! This was just one of the many highlights of our trip for the Aristocats.

It was wonderful watching this group getting on so well together throughout the trip- not just while out and about but also in the lodge- playing games of Uno or hide and seek together, creating shadow puppet shows, giving each other nicknames and chatting over breakfast about their time away. The group had such a great sense of humour and had the staff in fits of giggles more than a few times, but they were also kind and encouraging with each other, especially throughout our day at Disneyland when some didn’t enjoy certain rides or others were feeling a little homesick.

Another highlight for the Aristocats was definitely the Disneyland parade- it was wonderful to watch their faces and see them waving and clapping as the music started and the floats went by featuring all of their favourite Disney characters! One member of the group said it was that this trip was ‘the best thing that has ever happened to me.’

TEAM 2 AVENGERS T

he Avengers were last to get into their lodges on arrival at the campsite and were so excited to be able to choose which bed they were sleeping in and most importantly, who was getting top bunk! Even superheroes need rescuing sometimeswhen we got locked out of our lodge on the first night, the fantastic team on Eurocamp helped us get tucked into bed quickly. The young carers were so understanding and couldn’t wait to tell everyone at home about their unexpected first night adventure.

What a truly magical day the Avengers spent together at Disneyland. When we arrived through the doors into the park, music erupted from the speakers as the first parade of the day started. Jumping, clapping, singing and utter disbelief about seeing their favourite characters singing and dancing in front of everyone really set off the excitement of the day. We couldn’t miss out on going to the shops, where the young carers bought themselves memoirs and gifts for those at home who couldn’t be there (they couldn’t wait to hand them out when we got home). The excitement of Disneyland continued into breakfast the next morning. We spent the whole of breakfast talking about everyone’s favourite parts of the day; the parade and Hyperspace Mountain to name a few. One young carer even said ‘I hope when I’m bigger I can help with Cheshire Young Carers and bring lots of other young carers somewhere amazing like this’! We also went to the adventure playground, played some football, enjoyed bowling and laser tag, and went swimming. Another busy day!

TEAM 3 ENCANTO

After the much-anticipated arrival at Eurocamp, Team Encanto gathered their bags, suitcases, books, phones, and activity packs from the coach and made their way to the chalet that we called home for the next few days. Room allocation was decided quickly as everyone from Team Encanto was exhausted from the long (but exciting!) journey on the coach and the ferry. Due to the thrill of the Disney trip the next day the young carers were eager to stay up and chat, but due to being so tired and with an early start the next day it wasn’t long before they were fast asleep!

The next morning the lodge was teeming with excitement and chatter, breakfast was wolfed down and we practically ran to the bus because the main priority was to get to Disney as soon as possible! The young carers had a wonderful time at Disneyland- venturing on all the rides, taking in the sights, and digging in to all the delicious food. It was a fun filled, action packed day which they all enjoyed. One young carer said, ‘I loved the fact that I was persuaded to do things I never thought I’d do,’ when talking about the different rides and attractions they experienced.

To say the young carers were tired when they got back from Disneyland would be an understatement, so it was lights out to rest for a day of on-site activities the next day. The young carers loved varied activities and were eager to learn that they’d be having a late night that night to watch a movie and have snacks before heading home.

TEAM 4 INCREDIBLES

Team Incredibles had the most amazing time on the Paris 2023 trip, the highlight certainly being spending the Friday at Disneyland Paris! For many of the group it was a real ‘dream come true’ trip. One young carer even said they had previously spent time watching ‘influencers’ at the Disney parks on YouTube etc. and always believed this was somewhere they would never be able to visit- she said, ‘it feels like a dream now that we’re here!’

Team Incredibles loved the rides, especially Hyperspace Mountain, Phantom Manor, Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. One member of the group had never been on a rollercoaster! They also spent time meeting and greeting their favourite Disney characters and collecting autographs. The Genie from Aladdin even leaned on one of the young carers and poked them (gently!) in the face! The group also loved watching the parade, videoing their favourite bits on their phones, and waving at their favourite characters!

Team Incredibles had a fantastic time at La Croix du Vieux Pont campsite. They thoroughly enjoyed laser tag, bowling, and swimming but a highlight of their time at Eurocamp was the ‘French Toast Dance’ which the group (including the staff!) created and performed during their time together in their lodge in the evenings!

EUROCAMP ACTIVITIES

La Croix du Vieux Pont is a picturesque Eurocamp site in Picardy, about an hour and a half from Disneyland Paris. On the second full day of our trip, young carers had chance to enjoy some of the activities on offer at the campsite.

In the morning, lots of our young carers played on the a dventure playground which boasted swings, slides, climbing frames and even a wobbly bridge!

Following the young carers split into smaller groupssome challenging their friends in the Laser Quest arena, others donning bowling shoes and taking to the lanes to see who could get the highest score. If that wasn’t enough, the young carers then changed into their swimming gear and hit the pools, including an indoor pool with slides and a jacuzzi and an outdoor pool with bridges and a paddling area for those not feeling quite so brave!

Our young carers also had chance to do some shopping in the souvenir shop on-site as well as sample some of the delights from the bakery including pain au chocolat, strawberry croissants, and brioche. Yum!

Everyone had an amazing day, and we can’t thank Eurocamp and their staff enough for organising this fabulous opportunity for our young carers.

DISNEYLAND PARIS D

isneyland Paris is an entertainment resort in Chessy, France, about 20 miles east of Paris. It encompasses two theme parks, resort hotels, Disney Nature Resorts, a shopping, dining and entertainment complex, and a golf course. Disneyland Paris celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022; by then 320 million people had visited, making it the most visited theme park in Europe! It is also the largest Disney Park outside the United States. On the first full day of our trip, young carers enjoyed a hearty breakfast with their groups in their lodges before heading to the coach to travel to the park. The journey would take about an hour and a half, so our young carers came laden with books, headphones, and activity packs to keep them entertained, until the signs for Disneyland came in sight!

In their groups, our young carers decided which lands they wanted to visit first and which rides they most wanted to go on and off they went! Our young carers spent lots of times exploring the different areas of the park, from Fan tasyland to Discoveryland, from Sleeping Beauty’s Castle to Adventureland and beyond! Some preferred the calmer rides- the Carousel, Peter Pan’s Flight, and the Circus Train whilst others showed their daring sides- braving the big rollercoasters such as Hyperspace Mountain and Indi ana Jones and the Temple of Peril!

The young carers also enjoyed tasting different food for lunches and dinners at the park- some groups enjoying freshly made crepes, others preferring hotdogs or fish and chips! Some even enjoyed Mickey ice creams for dessert along with popcorn and candy floss to finish off!

A highlight for most of the groups was Disney Stars on Parade, a magical parade which passed through the park a couple of times during our trip. The young carers loved seeing all of their favourite Disney characters on their colourful floats, singing and dancing along to the enchanting music- including Frozen, Toy Story, Finding Nemo and much more. What a magical day!

Magic Moment!

“ It feels like a dream that we are actually at Disney, I loved it!

Can Cheshire Young Carers come back again? “

Daisy, Age 11

TEAM 5 NEMO

What an exciting excursion we had to France, from our coach journey to Dover, enjoying time on the ferry over to Calais, and more coach time to our campsite in Paris! Team Nemo loved keeping themselves entertained on the journey- making friendship bracelets, completing Disney wordsearches and colouring sheets, listening to music, reading books, and watching movies on the TV screens above their heads! The time certainly went much faster than we expected it to! For some young carers, it was their first experience on being on board a ferry, and our first journey was pretty rocky due to the wind! Team Nemo explored everything the ferry had to offer including shops, lounges, arcades, and top deck for the best views! Our young carers even saw seals on the beach as we approached Calais!

They were all extremely excited to have arrived in France, and even more excited when we arrived at our final destination after more time on the coach! Team Nemo had a wonderful time at the campsite, enjoying all of the activities on offer, and they certainly had the cleanest lodge due to their ‘no shoes in the house’ rule! When it came to Disneyland, it was clear that Team Nemo’s young carers were a group of adrenalin junkies! With little interest in the parades or character meet and greets, they headed straight for the rides! For one of Team Nemo, Hyperspace Mountain was their first experience of a rollercoaster! When she came off the ride she was heard saying ‘that was exhilarating!’ and after that she went on five more rollercoasters! Fantastic!

TEAM 6 ROBIN HOOD T

eam Robin Hood were a little tired when arriving at Crewe in the early hours, but they soon forgot the time as they all reconnected with young carers from their group after being in touch from the February Half-Term residential! For some group members, it was their first ever trip abroad, and longest time away from their parents. There were some nerves on the boat as many of the children hadn’t been on a boat before, but the staff and volunteers really helped to lift spirits!

Upon arriving at Disneyland Paris, the parade had just begun! Our young carers were mesmerised and taking in the magic of Disney - waving at Mickey and Goofy, singing to the music being played and talking about which land to explore first! We even got pictures taken with the characters and enjoyed trying some French when talking to staff. Young carers gave really heartfelt feedback – “I love it here; I want to stay forever” and “I wouldn’t ever be able to come to Disneyland, so this trip is just the best experience of my life.”

Eurocamp was a really exciting place to stay– wooden lodges as their holiday home, with a kitchen to prepare breakfast and plenty of amazing food provided at the on-site restaurant! The living room and garden gave the group chance to relax and play when the sun was out as well! One member of the group really built her confidence when swimming and said that another member of the group helped her to swim and enjoy the time in the pool. With bowling and laser quest on site too, as well as parks to play, there was plenty of fun things to do for the whole group!

TEAM 7 TOY STORY

When we arrived at the Eurocamp site it was dark raining and felt a little strange! Team Toy Story gathered all of their belongings and were then shown to their chalets. We explored our chalets, decided on bedrooms and then it was time to chill. We already felt comfortable with our groups as we had a practice sleepover a few weeks ago at Queen Charlotte’s Wood in Helsby. The chalets were traditional wooden style, downstairs we had an open plan living room / dining room and kitchen. There was also a bedroom, toilet, and shower room. Upstairs there were three further bedrooms and a large bathroom with a bath and shower. The chalets were nice and warm, and the beds were super comfortable. One comment from a young career was that they were so happy that they had real bedding and didn’t have to sleep in a sleeping bag! They were excited the first night, sharing a room and the young carers were eager to chat to each other which meant that in the morning there were lots of sleepy young carers, but breakfast and the excitement of Disney soon had us raring to go!

Team Toy Story had the most wonderful day at Disneyland and arrived back to the campsite very tired but ‘Buzz-ing’ after a fantastic day! It was close to midnight by the time the young carers had finished reminiscing about their day, but they made sure they settled down to re-fuel for a day of on-site activities the next day including bowling, swimming, and laser tag, followed by a cosy movie night with treats and hot chocolate- a lovely relaxing event before our last night’s sleepover!

TEAM 8 COCO

Early into our planning we made the decision to take a group of the young adult carers (YAC’s) as additional helpers for each Team. The YAC’s were an essential part of the trip.

The YAC’s stayed in their own lodge as Team Coco where they were able to share what they had been doing to help their groups, relax and even fit in a bit of revision for GCSE’s. When the groups were out and about at all of the YAC’s split up and were assigned 1 per group, it was clear to see what great role models they were for the younger ones and made connections with them very quickly. At Disneyland Paris, the YAC’s were particularly good at helping the young carers to conquer their fears and go on rides and rollercoasters that they were nervous about trying. The young carers enjoyed the YAC’s telling them about their activity respite programme and for those heading towards transition to the Team YAC, it helped them “to make friends and to get in to thinking what it would be like to join the YAC group.”

All the young carers have asked for more trips with the YAC’s helping and as we start setting up our YAC Ambassador programme, we look forward to them joining in with lots more trips in the future.

THANK YOU

It was only possible to run the Paris 2023 trip because of the incredible offer from Eurocamp to not only fund the trip but to help with the organisation of transport, accommodation, catering, and arranging tickets to Disneyland Paris. Eurocamp also provided five volunteers who travelled with the group to help with arrangements on site at La Croix du Vieux Pont as well as spending time with the groups on the day trip to Disneyland Paris. It was lovely to see the young carers sharing their experiences with the volunteers so that they could appreciate the positive impact of the trip for everyone.

We kindly received donations of sleeping bags for the trip from Regatta, these were put to good use for our pre-trip sleepovers.

Our thanks also to Mornflake for providing all the cereal for our Paris 2023 trip. We crunched our way through lots of boxes of yummy chocolate squares and granola before enjoying some of the delicious pastries from the bakery on site.

A special thank you to all our donors and supporters who made a personal contribution to the trip.

This review reflects the hours of planning and tremendous achievements when a plan comes together and exceeds all our dreams and expectations. A big thank you to our staff team and amazing volunteers who truly made the magic happen on this incredibly special trip.

FEEDBACK

We have received lots of lovely feedback from parents and young carers, here are some of our favourites:

“ Massive thankyou to CYC, Eurocamp and anyone else who made this trip possible. Memories made for a life time, my son has talked non stop, and in his words it was all AMAZING! ”

“ Thank you to all the gang at CYC, Eurocamp and anyone else involved in this weekends trip. I haven’t seen Emily this happy and relaxed for a long time. You are all wonderful! ”

“ Thank you so much to all involved you are all super humans! Without you our children wouldn’t have had this opportunity and their dreams achieved.”

“ I have loved listening to Greg talk about his group. He has made some great new friends. Thank you so much. ”

“ Thank you! The girls have had a fab time. ”