“The hospital fixes the hole in the child, but camp fixes the whole child” – a camper’s parent
Each summer, children and families from Edinburgh and Lothians who are affected by serious illness get a chance to attend one of Over The Wall’s free Therapeutic Activity camps. These camps help to rebuild some of what is lost to childhood illness, thanks to monumental efforts from groups of talented and highly skilled volunteers. Children aged 8 – 17 spend a week where they can kick back, relax, and simply be themselves.
Thom O’Neil usually works between the Children’s Clinical Research Facility and Emergency department at the Royal Hospital of Sick Children (RHSC), but at camp he gets to join the Beach Patrol – camp’s awesome clinical volunteers. They aim to de-medicalise camp as much as possible whilst providing world-class care (just ask the Care Quality Commission!). Camp has cured needlephobias, got campers doing their own jags, and even reduced tablet-taking time for one camper from an hour down to under 30 seconds!
Since 2017, camp has been supported by generous funding from Edinburgh and Lothian Health Foundation, so can now offer places to more campers than ever! If you work with children and young people in Edinburgh and the Lothians who you think may benefit from time at camp, check out www.otw.org.uk. There are even camps for siblings and families too!
If you are interested in joining The Beach Patrol, then take a look at the Clinical Volunteering page of the website, or contact Thomas.O’Neill@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk at the Children’s Clinical Research Facility.
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