'Our experience with this camp has been nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we arrived, Cat and the team created a welcoming and inclusive environment that made all the difference. Their warmth, gentle nature, and innate ability to make both children and parents feel safe and supported was immediately evident. My kids were at ease from the start—something that rarely happens for us.

The counselors, Paulina and Rosie worked closely with my child and were consistently kind, respectful, and deeply attuned to their individual needs and abilities. They built trust, encouraged participation, and ensured my child felt seen and valued every step of the way. This water-based camp had a powerful, lasting impact. It not only boosted my child’s confidence in their own physical abilities and willingness to engage in sports, but also helped them make new friends—a huge milestone. Even more importantly, it fostered meaningful growth in their independence...'

‘I’m actually beaming, I just feel that I needed to let you know how grateful as a mother I am. The progress that he has made since his Key Worker, D’s, input is incredible. My son is full of chat about his experience. He came home today, beaming full of pride, said he had fallen into water but it was okay as he had a change of clothes… It’s been an extremely challenging past 5 years, more downs than ups, with your staff dedication and commitment supporting him in taking those small steps, I’m incredibly thankful. Especially grateful to D. I really hope that D can continue working with him, he certainly has built a rapport and trust with him. It’s important for you to know the incredible work and impact that the staff do with young challenging autistic adults, presenting them with new opportunities. I’m hoping with his confidence and resilience he learns through these adventures and achievements he has in the next few months, he will be ready to look at training programmes in the community. Thanks again for everything.’

'Thank you so so much for this week. She was on a high the entire time with excitement at what she had to look forward to each afternoon. Her memory is pretty poor but she kept asking me when was her water camp happening as she remembered it from last year so vividly. With all her sensory issues, she would normally struggle with fear of doing any of those activities but she embraced them! Whatever you do and however you guys do it is magic...

I hope you know the difference you guys make to the lives of our kids and indeed to our lives as their parents and siblings. It is really exceptional.

I have one very content 15 year old who has grown in confidence so much. Thank you.'

'The camp was an amazing opportunity for him, to get out on the water & discover an interest that he can really enjoy. The people running the camp were absolutely fantastic. They showed great patience & understanding, which I was so grateful for. His presentation can be challenging to deal with & they truly did make such a difference with their patience & understanding. I am so grateful to them for giving him every opportunity to partake in the camp, which he really enjoyed.

Thank you!!'

'The students (and staff) loved the kayaking and paddleboarding , most had never had the opportunity to try out these activities before and enjoyed themselves so much .

Your staff were superb and gave the students confidence in trying out the new activities. It was definitely one of the highlights of our Summer Programme. 

We are so grateful to have had this opportunity and would embrace it again next June if you can possibly accommodate us.' . 

'What can I say... this week was yet another incredibly memorable and important week for him. I wish I had been in the water with you guys but I know that I must allow him his own independence and build relationships without me or his dad in the foreground. It was a first for him without us in this way and he thrived!!! Rhys, by all accounts was a rockstar, and you continue to recruit and lead an exceptional team. Please let them all know from the bottom of my heart how much we appreciate this camp and their work. Your teams energy, positivity and inclusive attitude is what life is all about. Thank you yet again for showing him and kids like him what life has to offer.'

'Active Connections is the best thing to happen in years! Thank you for providing her with an opportunity to be fully herself and have fun'

'To all involved in the camp, my son had a great time for the past 3 weeks, so good for him and the facilitators were just amazing each and everyone. I would hope that he could access this service long into the future as it met all of his needs and he was so happy attending every day, he vocalised this and he is minimally verbal so it takes a big motivator for him to use language. This is testament to the great service provided to him the past 3 weeks. I would like to give a particular mention to Jen from Kilkenny, she was so kind to him and has such a wonderful presence around him. Thank you Collie and your super team, can't thank you enough.'

'This camp was amazing. The pupils in our school benefitted so much from it. It had a therapeutic effect on the pupils and all of them were so relaxed when attending. They really enjoyed spending time on the water and participated in all activities. The staff that run the programme are amazing and really understood our pupils and met them where they were at. Thank you so much for giving us this amazing opportunity and we hope to have the opportunity again at some point in the future.'

'Just a massive thank you to all involved. My son loved the camp, he came home regulated and tired and was excited in the mornings to attend.'

Darren was a young person who grew up in a household where he was loved, but a household that he witnessed lots of violence and alcohol use. 

As he grew up, he started to realise that his family was not like others.

Darren found it hard to deal with this situation and the massive feelings it brought up in him.

He didn’t want to see his school friends because they had started to ask questions. Soon Darren began to refuse to go to school at all. He fell into despair and started to treat himself poorly. 

Active Connections was asked to help Darren start to deal with these feelings and the behaviours they brought up.

Darren was given a key worker, someone who would week after week turn up for him. Starting with speaking through a door but after a short time they spent more and more time outdoors. When outdoors Darren learned to achieve in a range of activities, he learned to trust his key worker and overcame lots of challenges/adversities.

Darren was supported for 6 months, in that time he started to feel better about himself, he started to go back to school and things got better at home.

“I don’t know exactly what to say but I know I’d like to thank Active Connections especially my key worker for honestly helping me through a rough patch over the past year. Thank you for all the experiences and memories, thank you for turning on the light when I was lost in the dark, just thanks you for everything” Darren

*Name changed to maintain confidentiality

'From start to finish this camp was amazing. We would be there once a month if we could. The coaches were just amazing with all the young teens. It has been the best experience of my son's life. Thank you all so much for making this happen for our children.'

'... Just wanted to say again how thankful we are that my son got the opportunity to attend. Dawn and Shauna and all the counsellors looked after him so well and he felt so comfortable. Usually he wouldn't settle into a camp environment for a while, but they really understood him. The pictures were amazing - all the kids were so happy! Because he's not able to tell us about his day it was really cool to see all the things he did! This kind of experience will stay with him for life, and we're very grateful to you all, thank you so much.'

‘I can’t articulate how much I am impressed with this camp, The instructor firstly were the perfect blend of chilled and utterly capable and vigilant, with a huge slice of passion for what they were teaching also. Their kindness as with yours is very very rare in my experience of camps. I mean that in a way that I know to have all factors aligned is a true blessing and can be difficult to achieve. You have done so effortlessly; every morning a warm and kind face met us and took J happily to start his day. The level of attention, one to one or sometimes two to one, was remarkable. The education value was so wonderful in the water and safety instructions and respect for deep water was so vital, the way the games and interactions occurred made J aware unbeknownst to himself about water safely was excellent too. Every day he came home utterly satisfied, exhausted, fulfilled and so so happy! His greatest wish and hope is to have a friend and he met lovely people that made him feel included, taught him kindly, laughed at his jokes and made him feel capable and well normal. Every night he fell asleep smiling to himself. Honestly Thank You might seem trite but what you provided was so much more than a water camp. J is walking around the house feeling ten foot tall, and can’t wait to meet you all again and be part of that special special place. I know it was more than the perfect sunshine and the healing power of the water itself, it was a crew led so well and an intuitive group of people that worked so well together very obviously with a deep kindness as their common foundation. I include Gwen in this feedback as kind and thoughtful and helpful and understanding as one could ask. I think what is so wonderful in this camp how you may not be fully aware of the immense impact you’ve all made to me and to J. Roll on next year and if there is another camp and sailing, please please don’t hesitate to call, email, carrier pigeon, or drone … let me know.’

‘Since she has availed of your services it has not only helped us as a family but it has been an important part of her journey in getting the support she needs to have a normal childhood. Since the first day she has met you, she took to you straight away and asks for you if too many weekends pass when will she be going with you again. She hasn't had many male role models in her life but having the camping trips/days out with you have helped her to experience what it is like to be part of something. It has also given us some really needed help as she can be very destructive at home and we also need that break from her as things get extremely stressful for us. It also helps us to spend quality time with our young son as it has been, and still is, a difficult journey for him to open up his home and share his parents with another child. Your services mean so much to fostering families like us that struggle everyday with the difficulties of a fostered child as it is both emotional for herself and for us.’

'I am very happy with the camp, it’s a great chance for my 10 year old ASD son to try water sports in a comfortable way. I understand main priority is safety and positive experience, but as there were 1-1 collaboration, I see and feel that the camp was brilliant!!!! Many thanks for increasing not only my sons confidence but mine as well! Good luck to you all and it would be amazing to have more activities like that available!!!'