Mencap’s summer camp goes ahead with new look event

Learning disability charity, Mencap, decided not to cancel its annual summer camp, which took place near Oxford this year. Rather than cancelling or postponing the event, like many other charities have had to do, Mencap embraced the idea of social distancing, rebranding the event Spaced Out and going ahead with it.

Mencap’s Oxford branch has held its camp at Hill End Outdoor Education Centre near Botley for the past forty years, this year, instead of holding daily trips and the camp’s usual activities, the organisers turned the centre into a space where daily activities were held for the three weeks of the camp. Activities included bingo, yoga sessions, baking and live music, all done at a distance.

Katie Hollier, the camp’s organiser, told reporters: “People have been so committed the atmosphere at camp has been electric. Every single day people are getting more creative and I think that is really important, not just for us but for us to share that with Mencap and other learning disability organisations across the country.”