NEWSLETTER  •  SUMMER 2021

Angus's News

It feels a lot like summer here at Ardvullin with the long sunny days, the occasional midge, and a lot more like normal with families from across Scotland finally being able to join us for some HopScotch adventures on our family respite breaks.

It felt like a very long spell over the winter lockdown with the house being empty, so it has been great seeing the families and, in particular, the children enjoying themselves in and around Ardvullin. We have been on trips up into the mountains, explored the local coast and forests on foot, and had some wild swimming adventures. Over the past couple of weeks, we have been able to offer an Ardvullin holiday to more than one family at a time, with the lifting of some government restrictions. Going on holiday and playing with someone other than siblings has also been a great highlight for the children. In addition, it feels like a big step toward welcoming back groups and getting our respite programme underway again. 

The activity centre here at Ardvullin is so close to completion. Over the past month, we finally had the electrical cables connected to the building, and we have had an impressive new scramble wall built. There will be lots of fun times ahead!!!

Here are some quotes from the families who we have supported on their respite breaks this year:

"I loved my holiday. I got to spend more time with my gran, mum and [sister]. I loved the big play park and the air hockey table but my favourite part was going up the mountain"

"Home life has been stressful so this was an unexpected and amazing opportunity. Thank you for allowing us to come up here...Angus was extremely friendly and helpful. He was amazing with our kids. Amazing memories have been made"

"My children really enjoyed the house and visiting the mountains, the beach and the forests. Very different from home, it was like a dream. I'm so happy to take my children on holiday for the first time"

"[my favourite part of the holiday was] building a fort in the living room and sleeping in front of the fire"

Activity Centre News

The Activity Centre has progressed well since construction work began last summer. Like many things in the world today, we have been impacted to some extent by Covid restrictions, but we are now in the home-stretch for it to be completed. If you already follow HopScotch on social media then you will know that our feeds have shown regular photographic updates since last August, all the way from the foundations being laid to, most recently, the climbing wall being built and painting getting underway. It is going to be an exciting and invaluable new addition to respite breaks at Ardvullin, and we can't wait to see the first groups of children making use of it...hopefully very soon!