What Yorkshire Friends Holiday School means to one young person
Yorkshire Friends Holiday School is a week long summer residential for 13-18s. Bookings are now open for this years event, which is held in Yorkshire from 18 to 25 August 2024.
One young person reflects on their experience:
"As someone who is on their last year of Holiday School, I've had so much experience and lessons within this community. It helped me learn myself in more ways I cannot fathom. Patience. Happiness. Learning to reflect and listen to myself and others. Most of all, it's fun. I have never enjoyed peace so much in such a chaotic space. People are laughing and dancing, swimming and painting. Yet it all seems so uplifting. Not a moment of overwhelming feelings. Just smiles. And that's because everyone's doing it together. It's one big family with no judgement, where everyone feels welcome, and in my experience I learned that I do fit in.
As a Quaker, meeting for worship is something I used to find tiring as a child. I never took full advantage of the silence and the thoughts in my head. At holiday school, I learnt how powerful it can be to just sit and take a moment to think about everything and anything. It helped me figure out who I am and who I can be. Reflection on yourself, on your surroundings, and how they can make you feel.
No age group is separated. To me, I think this is the most important part. For example, nest groups are a daily check up and games within little groups of participants and staff. It's a unique and intimate time to get to know a different group of people from all ages, which starts from the first day. It ranges from all ages and tend to be people you wouldn't usually find yourself talking to.
Holiday school is something that stay with you each year. Not just through memories but through the rosy glows. These are books filled in at the end of every week of lovely personalised messages given from each participant. As it's my last year, I'm hoping that this time my rosy glow won't just keep me going till next year, but the rest of my life. To me, holiday school is home."