Newsletter

What year did you first join PHAB?

1990

What is your first memory of PHAB?

I'd just turned 13 when I joined Fairfield PHAB and I immediately knew it was place I wanted to be. I'd only been a member for a matter of days and I was going on holiday to Bendrigg Lodge! It was a great experience and helped me settle into the group very quickly.

What influence has PHAB had on your life?

I made friends straight away and the friendships I made were to be lifelong. PHAB was such a welcoming place to be and it was the best youth club i'd ever been to. When PHAB closed down it was a wrench to say goodbye to everybody. It was round about the time I first became involved in working with children and young people with disabilities. I was 18 when PHAB closed and I was at an age where I was trying to work out what to do with my life. I become involved in a few youth projects and eventually it led me to become a youth/play worker. Through the people I met at PHAB and through the friends I made, I was inspired to apply for Camp America. During the summer of 2001 I worked at Camp Ascca in Alabama, USA. Ascca is a camp for children and adults with disabilities and I spent 10 weeks in the USA as a Camp Counselor. The experiences I gained and friendships I made were life changing. I've since worked another 2 summers at Camp Ascca, Fairfield PHAB and Camp Ascca will always be close to my heart.

If you would have told me that by the time I was 30 i'd be the leader of Fairfield PHAB I'd have said you were crazy. I was a shy kid at heart and I'm sure people who remember me as a kid would say the same, I honestly never imagined myself as a PHAB Leader. My life experiences up to now have made me realise what is important to me and Fairfield PHAB is definately an important part of my life.

What makes Fairfield PHAB enjoyable?

For me PHAB is all about new experiences and making new friends. I've been lucky enough to make some great friends through PHAB and because of PHAB. My experiences at PHAB have made me who I am today and have led to some incredible experiences. At Fairfield PHAB we have a close knit team who work very well together and whom all share the same goals. We all have the members best interests at heart and we all take pride and comfort in the fact we know were are helping others. We've had lots and lots of positive feedback from members, parents and visitors alike. The atmosphere at PHAB is relaxing and enjoyable and this is a credit to everybody involved. It's a reward in itself seeing how much our members enjoy attending Fairfield PHAB.