Challenges
Here are some extracts from applications that will give you a flavour of the real challenges that some families face.
(Names have been changed to protect identities)
Mark (aged 9) is from a low income family with some addiction issues, he usually stays with his grandmother.
Maya (age 11) lives with her six siblings and mum is disabled so she often takes on the mother role.
Darren’s parents live with new partners and both have serious drug and drink problems so Darren and his two brothers live with their elderly grandmother.
Codie comes from a family where ”stepfathers” are always changing and his disabled sibling takes most of mum’s attention, camp will give him the chance to have one–to-one attention with the youth workers.
Rachel’s mum is a drug addict and is dating a 19 year old man which has brought some additional tensions into the family.
Hannah (15) comes from a single parent family, her mum is studying to be a teacher in order to better provide for her family. She gets the bus on her own every week to get to church.