With our 2026 holidays and missions underway, Helen Vinter tells us about Unlimited, the SU additional needs holiday which she founded and leads. She explains what led her to launch it, what makes it special – and how it helps young people to flourish.
My parents founded SU’s Harriers holiday, and going on it each summer was crucial to my own faith development. Later I helped lead it, even after having children when my husband stayed home on childcare duties!
In due course, our eldest daughter went to Harriers as well. Our two younger children had additional needs – thankfully SU had holidays for them too. However, the upper age limit was 18 so I founded Unlimited for those aged 19–25. Last year, most places sold out within 12 hours!
Now, some of the group are too old for Unlimited. There’s nothing else catering for their faith, age and needs, so this August we’re launching Boundless for those aged 26–30.
It’s a wonderful, full-on holiday!
Unlimited, based at the Horstead Centre near Norwich, attracts about 15 young people with a range of additional needs. Some are very sociable and able to look after themselves, others need more assistance. Most can’t read or write and a few are non-verbal. They’re supported by around 15 volunteers. It’s a wonderful, full-on holiday!
Morning worship starts with a song followed by a themed activity introducing the day’s Bible story. One time, we played a very unfair game of Pass the Parcel where the leader got the parcel every time, then did an interactive retelling of the story of Zaccheus who wasn’t very fair to other people.
After prayers, songs, quiz, talk and memory verse, we have a final fun activity to highlight key learning – for Zaccheus, we mixed household ingredients to make foam, to highlight how meeting Jesus dramatically changed Zaccheus and can change us too. Then in the afternoons we do activities such as paddleboarding and crate stacking.
There is something really special about being in that Christian community for a few days!
Transforming young lives
God is really moving in these young lives, most obviously in their worship which is incredibly heartfelt, honest and moving. I see their confidence grow – during paddleboarding, one girl was anxious but eager to take part. With much encouragement, she managed to get up and knelt on her board with the rest. When the instructor eventually invited us to stand up, she was the first on her feet, beaming!
Unlimited gives these young people a sense of belonging, too. On one lad’s first visit, he couldn’t cope with being in the main meeting and had to sit outside the window. The next year, he sat just inside, near the door. Nowadays, he’s right in the mix!
Back home, changes continue. One dad said his son was now praying regularly, using a pebble we gave him inscribed with ‘God loves you’. A mum told me how she cried when her daughter voluntarily said sorry for the first time after doing something wrong.
Often, churches can’t meet these young people’s needs, so Unlimited becomes their spiritual home. (We offer two online events as well, to keep them connected during the year.)
As with all SU holidays, there is something really special about being in that Christian community for a few days. One of our volunteers summed it up when she said, ‘If joy could be bottled, this would be it!’
What’s volunteering at Unlimited like? Watch the video!
We’re looking for more volunteers!
Our holidays and missions wouldn’t happen without our many committed volunteers! If you, or someone you know, might like to volunteer, find out more by clicking below.
No experience necessary, although training or experience in additional needs is helpful for these particular holidays.