Connecting with nature has many benefits for improving daily life

them off. This is perfectly understandable coming from a parent who, for example, has had to be risk-averse because of the nature of their child's medical needs. Learning how to manage risk is however an essential part of growing up and well managed outdoor activities can provide this.

If a young person can enter an environment which could be perceived as 'risky' but is also carefully managed by the activity provider, it can be a profoundly beneficial experience. Climbing up a climbing wall or canoeing on a lake can be totally out of someone's comfort zone, but with the right support and safety measures in place, it can be truly rewarding for the young person and their parent or teacher.

To me, the adventure element of outdoor activity breaks means undertaking an activity where there is an uncertain outcome. It requires courage, resilience, effort and determination. When young people overcome their challenges in the right social environment, they begin to believe that they can achieve far more in life than they thought possible before, whether it be at home, at school or in a social setting.

Can this change their long term aspirations in life? I believe it can, and that's why we undertake these challenging activities. Experiences that are outside the norm and the comfort zone of young people can help them develop their self-belief and self-esteem. These things are key to enabling someone to lead a happy and fulfilling life.

Sharing stories, connecting and having fun

Disabled people are generally at higher risk from chronic loneliness, and I frequently hear that the most beneficial time for people during an activity residential is the evenings. This is the unstructured activity time where young people, teachers and parents can discuss their day, share their adventure stories and laugh about any mishaps there might have been. Being able to go away and have a shared experience with people can be an amazing tonic for helping manage the challenges we face day to day.

Meeting new people who are in a similar situation to ourselves can be profound. It helps to be reminded that we are not alone, that there are other people out there who share our struggles and have similar difficulties to ours. It's also a great opportunity to discuss solutions to problems, to build new networks and make friends, which can help us in day-to-day living.

For families, this opportunity to spend true, quality time together is a strengthening experience. In families where one of the family members has a disability, being able to have a shared experience and have fun together can be momentous. I hear