At Moorpark Place, our adult learning disabilities service in North Ayrshire, Sean and his senior support worker, Guy recently conquered Ben Nevis together. They have shown how much progress can be made through consistent support and shared goals.
Guy has been at Moorpark Place for nearly 10 years, with nine of those years as a senior support worker. His dedication and commitment to our residents shines through his work, especially with Sean. Covid brought significant changes to Sean’s routine, halting his regular social trips and outings. To fill this void, Guy and Sean began walking together. What started as simple walks gradually transformed into more challenging rural walks and jogging sessions. Now they go on daily walks of around six to seven miles, with longer sessions stretching up to 15 miles.
Recognising Sean’s enthusiasm and growing ability to manage longer walks, Guy suggested taking on some challenges. Sean was keen and this led to their first significant accomplishment last August — climbing Ben Lomond. This success fuelled their ambition, and in February, they braved the snow to climb ‘The Cobbler,’ another famous peak in Scotland.
The Ben Nevis Challenge
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles and so, naturally, this became their next goal. Guy, having climbed it several times before, knew it was a tough challenge. However, the weather forced them to delay their plans multiple times over three months. Finally, with a favourable forecast, they set off last week.
Upon arriving, they found parking to be a challenge, resulting in an additional mile walk to the starting point and another mile back to the car after their climb. Despite these minor setbacks, they were excited. The climb itself took six hours, but the sense of accomplishment at the summit was well worth the effort. They even celebrated with Sean dancing at the top!
Sean’s remarkable progress
Living with autism, Sean faced significant challenges before coming to Moorpark Place. His time in other facilities had not been successful. However, since moving to Moorpark Place nine years ago, Sean has made great progress. Initially, his behaviour was extremely challenging, and he often experienced distress. With consistent support and care from our dedicated team, Sean’s life has dramatically improved. He is now able to engage in social activities and tackle incredible challenges, like climbing Ben Nevis. This progress has also made his family really happy, who are now more at ease knowing Sean is thriving.
On to the next challenge
Ben Nevis is just the beginning. To prepare for this challenge, Guy and Sean’s regular training included daily walks and longer sessions, ensuring they were physically and mentally ready. Their journey to the mountain was filled with the lively tunes of Sean’s favourite ‘80s music, adding a fun and motivating element to their adventure.
As they look to the future, Guy and Sean are setting their sights on the National Three Peak Challenge, planning to conquer Scafell Pike and Snowdon next.
Everyone at Active Care Group is incredibly proud of Sean and Guy’s achievements. Congratulations! Here’s to many more incredible journeys and milestones ahead!
For more information on Moorpark Place, please visit their webpage.
