About us...
Background
The Manchester Children’s Burns Camp began nearly 20 years ago, when a small
number of burn injured children enjoyed a weekend away. Now, we run two annual,
week-long Camps for up to 50 children and young people as well as developing a
training programme for young people who have attended Camp in the past to learn
how to become Camp Leaders in the future.
Activities
We also organise several day activities – such as indoor skiing and tobogganing -
so that those who have experienced burn injuries can enjoy physical challenges
alongside their peers. We also participate in an International Exchange Programme
with a Burns Camp in Colorado, USA, to share ideas and improve what we do.
Free Places
The Camps and training programmes are free for invited children and young
people to attend. The costs are funded solely from charitable donations.
Upcoming Events
Virtual Burns Camp
Christmas Party
Thirty five patients between 6 and 12 years of age attended the Christmas party. Activities included an obstacle course, inflatable whack a mole, a rodeo Christmas pudding, face painting, balloon art, Christmas crafts, lots of party food, a human snow globe and a visit from Father Christmas.
Family Weekend
We attended both the April and November Family Weekends in 2019. The families enjoyed time together including fun at Walby Farm Park, a music workshop, storyteller Taffy Thomas, walking Llamas, arts & craft sessions and time in the swimming pool.
Younger Children’s Camp
The activities at camp this year included canoeing, horse-riding, swimming, abseiling, gorge walking, a climbing wall and archery. There was also a visit to the cinema, a campfire evening and a party night.
Older Children’s Camp
Twenty seven patients attended our older children’s burns camp at One Education Outdoors Ghyll Head, including 2 exchange campers from Colorado, USA. The children enjoyed activities such as canoeing & kayaking, swimming, abseiling, camping and a poetry workshop with Lionheart.
Tree Top Trek Day Activity
In May 2019 our activity day was held at the recently opened Tree Top Trek at Heaton Park, a spectacular high ropes course through the woodland, with thrilling zip lines, nets course, tree houses, ball parks and slides. There was also time for a packed lunch and to just chill and chat.
Christmas Party
Twenty six patients between 6 and 12 years of age attended the Christmas party. There were lots of exciting activities to do including an obstacle course, a rodeo reindeer, face painting, balloon art, Christmas crafts, lots of party food, real reindeer and not forgetting a visit by Father Christmas.
Family Weekend
The Family Weekend is a collaboration between the children’s burns services in Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and Wakefield; the Children’s Burns Trust and the Fire Fighters Charity. Families enjoyed fun at Walby Farm Park, storyteller Taffy Thomas and walking Llamas.
Older Children’s Camp
Our older children’s burns camp was held at One Education Outdoors Ghyll Head near Windermere. 23 patients attended and activities included a zip wire, yoga, canoeing & kayaking, ghyll scrambling swimming and camping.
Younger Children’s Camp
Burns camps are a great way to help rebuild a child’s self-esteem and self-confidence following a burn injury. The children attending the camp at Low Mill this year tried canoeing, horse-riding, swimming, abseiling, gorge walking and archery along with a film night and party night.
Sports Themed Activity Day
In May 2018 Adidas invited us to a sports themed activity day at their headquarters in Hazel Grove, Stockport. Thirteen patients between the ages of 8 and 16 attended the day along with their families. We tried Yoga, football and tackled an obstacle course and finished the day with a BBQ.
Christmas Party
Younger Children’s Camp
Older Children’s Camp
Rock Over Climbing
Art Day
Crocky Trail
What we do
Each year, around 750 burn injured children and young people are treated under the care of the Manchester Paediatric Burns Service. Those aged between 4 and 16 are invited to attend the appropriate camps and activities.
The Team
We are a team of specially trained volunteers who come from a variety of different health service professions (such as doctors, nurses, clinical psychologists, play specialists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists), along with fire fighters and adult burn survivors.
The Activities
The camps are carefully designed to help children and young people face the challenges of living with a burn injury. These may include:
- Physically challenging activities such as rock climbing, abseiling and caving to build self-confidence in what their bodies can still achieve.
- Day trips such as bowling and swimming which allow children to face the public with the support of each other.
- Teamwork challenges to help improve social and communication skills.
- Small group activities to learn effective coping strategies for dealing with difficult situations such as teasing or bullying.
Our Volunteers
Name: Ian Melville
Age: 45
From: Manchester
Ian has been an operational Fire Fighter for 18 years, currently serving as a Watch Manager at Moss Side, Manchester.
How you can help...
It costs around £500 for a child to attend one of our residential Camps. All the camp staff give their time voluntarily so we only pay for the facilities, equipment and for qualified instructors to ensure safety at all times.
Personal Donations
We depend on charity donations – whether from a business, fundraising or a personal contribution. Children who attend are not asked to contribute financially; but a lot of the families who know how amazing our camps are have held a fundraising event to say ‘thank you’ and ensure that places at the camp are available for others in the future.
Business Support
If you’re looking for a local charity to support where you can see directly where the money has gone, we are ideal. You know that 100% of your donation directly provides a life-changing experience.
Each year we have a special Visitors Day at the Camps so you can come along and see for yourself how your donation has been used.
Download a copy of our Annual Reports
By Post:
Cheques should be made payable to Manchester Children’s Burns Camp and sent to:
Alison Thomlinson
Burns Camp Co coordinator
Burns Service (Ward 81)
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9WL
Tel: 0161 701 8142
Mobile: 07827 848240
Alison.Thomlinson@mft.nhs.uk
Children's Burns Camp is part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust Charity (Registered Charity Number 1049274).
Manchester Children's
Burns Camp
Burns Service
Royal Manchester
Children's Hospital
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9WL
Who we do it for...
Recovering From A Burn Injury
Following a traumatic injury, children and young people can face many physical and
psychological challenges. The process of recovery can take a long time – arduous,
painful dressing changes and repeated trips to the hospital for further surgery are
combined with regular massage regimes and wearing specialist tight-fitting garments
for up to three years to help minimise scarring. They also have to adapt to their bodies
now looking different, learning to reintegrate into social and family life in a society
that often discriminates against disfigured people.
How Burns Camps Help
At Camp, they meet and socialise with young people just like themselves, as well as
meeting adult burn survivors and members of the Burn Care Team away from clinical
procedures.
So whether they are climbing a cliff face, canoeing across a lake, solving a team challenge, going swimming for the first time since their injury or chatting late into the night, these young people gain far more than a fun summer holiday. They gain confidence and new skills to help them in the years ahead; they gain friendship and support with others who totally understand.