The children we help
HopScotch works with some of the most disadvantaged children in Scotland. Many have never been to the country or seaside before and a holiday at Ardvullin is their only opportunity to have a break away from their problems in a safe and secure environment.
The children come from very different backgrounds, some have suffered physical or psychological abuse, others suffer as a result of parental drug or alcohol abuse. Some are young carers, their days and nights spent caring for a parent or family member. Others have special needs or come from families affected by financial difficulties and hardship, one parent family groups, refugee or asylum groups and HIV/AIDS support centres.
Our programme runs from April to October each year. All our breaks are FREE to organisations that work with disadvantaged children. We cover the cost of travel, HopScotch staffing, facilities and activities.
Our holiday week starts on Monday morning when we collect groups from their hometown and take them to Ardvullin, where they are based until they return home on Friday. We employ a Project Worker who is responsible for organising and running the holiday programme and adapting the week’s activities to suit each group. We aim to combine fun and exciting activities with the opportunity to learn about local history, wildlife, birds, plants, sea life and the environment.
We supply each child with waterproofs and a pair of wellies and on arrival each child is given, and keeps, a HopScotch hat and a scrapbook and diary in which to record the weeks activities. Day trips are made to local beaches, horseriding, canoeing, a trip to the top of Aonach Mor by cable car, indoor climbing, fishing, boot trips, and woodland and riverside walks.
There are no TV's or computer games at Ardvullin and evening activities include barbeques, scavenger hunts, playing on the adventure playground, drama nights and nature walks. We also a craft room with board games and arts and craft materials, dressing up clothes, books and toys. A last night party has become a traditional way to end the holiday, before the children and carers return home tired but happy on Friday!