UKSA in 2022

Ashleigh Gibbs, Schools, Groups and Development Outreach Coordinator from UKSA talks to us about exciting new changes and what to expect in 2022.

How has UKSA coped with the pandemic and it impacting the business?

During the pandemic, we took the time to invest in the on-site facilities at UKSA to ensure we were the best we could be when residential trips for schools and groups recommenced. This included refurbishing our shower and changing facilities which now offers a modern and quality space for anyone coming on and off the water. We also opened a full-sized sports hall and gym which provides a space for children to play games and exercise when they're not out, having fun on the water.

Why was it so important to you to improve facilities and make updates during the pandemic?

The lockdown period and in particular the closure of schools has meant that more than 8,000 children from across the UK have missed out on the transformational opportunities that UKSA can provide for them. Increased screen time and isolation has had a profound impact on the mental wellbeing of our young, so UKSA's programmes are the antithesis to this and are arguably needed now more than ever. With that in mind, we wanted schools to return to the best experiences on offer.

What's next for UKSA?

We have a new 136-bed accommodation centre, which is currently in build, opening in 2022 and will not only significantly improve the standard of accommodation for all our residential visitors, but its flexible internal layout makes it far easier for us to safely accommodate groups and individuals in the new post pandemic world we find ourselves in. We're really pleased to announced the building will enable an additional 3,000 children and young people to visit UKSA each year which goes a long way to addressing the currently demand for availability. This in turn allows us to continue growing our impact on life skills and career prospects. The new accommodation centre will be ready to welcome schools and groups in the autumn term, which is really exciting and, of course any bookings going into 2023.

What can visitors expect from a visit in 2022?

School residentials booked for 2022 will benefit from all our updated facilities and depending on the date, may also get the chance to stay in the new accommodation centre but crucially students will build confidence and teamwork skills using watersports and the great outdoors as a catalyst for positive outcomes. Following such difficult times, it seems more important than ever that every visitor goes away with a life-changing experience from their stay at UKSA.

What's unique about residential trips to UKSA?

We've been delivering inspirational programmes to young people for over 30 years and continue to lead the field in outdoor learning experiences. Our truly bespoke experiences bring groups back year after year and we're proud to work with each group to support their unique requirements and learning outcomes. This means you're able to choose one of our popular multi-activity programmes based around various watersports, or we can design a bespoke programme specifically for you. Our safety record is exemplary and working with parents, carers, teachers and group leaders to support students to try new, challenging and inspiring activities in our unique waterfront location, brings us the most satisfaction.

Trips are also available in the school holidays for many of our residential programmes so, although it's not the usual choice for many schools, it does present a great opportunity to take advantage of availability and not miss out.