A sibling’s story of the Barnstondale activity weekend

When we arrived at the 2026 Smith-Magenis Conference at Barnstondale, many of us didn’t know each other very well. That quickly changed. Barnstondale was the perfect place to break the ice, with a playground where conversations started naturally, a football pitch where we played together for the first time, and benches where our parents could sit and chat. In the evening, everyone gathered around the campfire to roast marshmallows, giving us even more opportunities to meet new people. By the end of the first evening, we had already begun forming new friendships and catching up with older friends.

Over the course of the conference, we took part in a range of exciting activities organised by the Barnstondale staff, including archery, rock climbing, rifling and abseiling. Each activity brought something different, but they all helped us build confidence, encourage one another and have fun together.

Our first organised activity was archery. The range had three hay targets, each with its own stand. The Barnstondale staff were always there to help the younger children draw and shoot their bows, while some of us older children came close to hitting the bullseye, although nobody quite managed it. There was plenty of friendly competition as we compared our scores and encouraged each other to improve. Before long, our session came to an end and we headed over to the rock-climbing wall.

At the climbing wall, we collected our harnesses and helmets before the instructors checked that everything was fitted correctly. The younger children went first, full of excitement and determination. Most chose to stop around halfway up, but every one of them came down smiling and proud of what they had achieved. Then it was our turn. Those of us who reached the top rang the bell, which gave us a real sense of accomplishment. Most of us enjoyed it so much that we went back for another climb before it was finally time for lunch.

After lunch, we moved on to rifling. The instructors showed us how to safely load the air rifles, and each of us was given three pellets to shoot. We aimed at a variety of targets, including bells and metal discs, and every successful hit felt really rewarding. After several rounds, the instructor brought out paper targets so we could see exactly where our shots had landed. Many people scored bullseyes or came very close, and everyone was pleased with how well they had done. We enjoyed the activity so much that we stayed an extra ten minutes before moving on to our final challenge of the day.

The last activity was abseiling. One by one, we climbed the stairs to the platform while the instructor prepared us to descend. Some people needed a little more encouragement before taking that first step over the edge, and a few were nervous about the height. However, everyone made it safely to the bottom and felt incredibly proud for facing their fears. Many of us climbed straight back up for another turn, including those who had been scared at first. It gave all of us a real sense of bravery and achievement, making it the perfect way to finish the first day of activities.

That evening, everyone came together for the disco. There were games, music and karaoke, and we all joined in. It was great fun listening to each other sing, watching everyone dance and seeing people grow in confidence. The campfire was open once again, giving us another chance to roast marshmallows and spend time together. The evening ended with the England football match, which gave all the football fans plenty to talk about before the final day began.

The last day only included organised activities during the morning, giving us around two hours before the event came to an end. This time, we were free to choose whichever activities we wanted to do. We could walk around the different activity areas and decide for ourselves what to try. It gave many people the chance to experience activities they had missed the day before, whether that was shooting the air rifle for the first time or climbing the wall again. It was an opportunity to make the most of everything Barnstondale had to offer.

Throughout the morning, we made the most of our freedom, running between activities, trying new things and returning to our favourites. Looking back, it wasn’t just the activities that made the weekend so memorable. They helped us build confidence, face our fears, support one another and create friendships that we hope will last long after the weekend had ended. Those experiences gave us something truly special and unique.