Stepping out of the comfort zone
For children with Type 1 Diabetes, life can feel isolating as they learn to live with and manage their condition. My Charity was pleased to fund an exciting trip for a group of paediatric patients with a diabetes diagnosis supported across the Worthing Hospital and St Richard’s Hospital diabetes centres.
In February 2025, a group of young people living with Type 1 Diabetes headed to the Lodge Hill Centre in Pulborough. The trip to the activities centre aimed to provide a transformative experience through a wide range of outdoor learning opportunities – addressing any feelings of isolation, loneliness or concerns about their condition alongside their peers – in a stunning woodland setting in the midst of the South Downs National Park.
Paul Peacock, Youth Worker at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, explained:
From zip lines to axe throwing, vertical obstacle courses to blindfolded orienteering, the activities successfully pulled individuals out their comfort zone as they relied on teamwork and logic. They learned from one another, developed independence away from their families and gained vital confidence in themselves.
On top of participants fostering connections with each other, the trip also provided an opportunity for patients to engage with their medical team involved in their care, outside of the usual clinical setting. It encouraged open communication and trust – key aspects of successful ongoing medical treatment for young people with diabetes. What is more, by observing patients in the ‘real world’, the multidisciplinary teams at Worthing and Chichester diabetes centres can continue to develop their independence moving forward.
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