The following interview was conducted in 2023. Ben’s parents, Helen and Mike, discuss their experience with Supertroop and explain what it means to them as a family. The names ‘Ben’, ‘Helen’ and ‘Mike’ are aliases to protect the privacy of our holiday maker and their family.
Tell me a little bit about Ben.
Helen: He is nearly fifteen years old, he is non verbal, has autism, learning disabilities and a slight sensory processing disorder. He has behaviours that challenge on a regular basis.
Mike: He can be very challenging. He can also be very rewarding. He’s got the best smile, the best laugh, we don’t see it very often these days, unfortunately, typical teenager!
Helen: When he laughs it’s a full on belly laugh and it’s the best noise ever.
How long have you been involved with Supertroop?
Mike: Since it started. Ben was one of the first intakes in your first year.
Helen: We were a bit nervous about it. Usually you’ve got to know Ben before you can be left with him, but Sue was very reassuring. After chatting with her I just knew Ben would be absolutely fine.
Was there something in particular that gave you that confidence?
Helen: I think just her whole attitude. She just seemed very relaxed and calm and knowledgeable. I asked “What if Ben does this?” and she said “That’s fine, don’t worry about that.” and explained what they would do. Ben had an amazing time, he didn’t want to come home!
Mike: No, he didn’t. That first year when we were told that some of the students, the sixth formers at Fettes, would be helping out we thought “Are they sure they know what they’ve let themselves in for?” but again after speaking to Sue and a couple of the other staff we got their assurances that the kids would be supervised. Speaking to Sue, her whole demeanour put us at ease.
Would you recommend Supertroop to other families?
Helen: I’ve told many people about it and it’s a special occasion. It’s only for a week a year but if they ran it for six weeks they would have people constantly. So many people don’t have anywhere to take their kids.
Mike: Supertroop’s been a godsend for us. Ben loves it as well. After the first year whenever we take him there as soon as he realises where we are there’s this big grin appears on his face. We pull up, we open the car door and he is off. Off like a rocket. Which in itself speaks volumes for the service you’re providing.
Helen: We actually can’t drive anywhere near Fettes unless we are bringing him because if we drive anywhere near it he thinks that’s where he’s going and if he doesn’t go there he gets very upset.
Mike: As I say, he loves being there. He knows which room is his, he gets the same room every year. He even recognises some of the staff who have worked with him from previous years and some of the pupils as well. One actually came back after he had left the school to help out with Supertroop, which again is another great advert for you, the fact that your volunteers keep wanting to volunteer.
What would you tell other families about what to expect?
Helen: We know it's going to be hard, but it’s so worth it. All different kinds of children with different kinds of needs go but I haven’t seen anyone not enjoy it.
Mike: The first year you go it might be a wrench as you drive away and leave them. You think “Oh my god, what have I done? I hope everything’s okay.” We were like that. We would phone up every night just to ask “How is he? What’s happened? Is he okay?” Now that he’s a seasoned veteran we drop him off and we might phone up once in the middle of the week to see if everything’s okay.
Helen: We are safe in the knowledge that he is safe with Supertroop, he is looked after.
Could you tell me a bit about what happened with Ben on the holiday this year?
Helen: We were told by staff he had become agitated and he managed to cut himself. Obviously because of his disabilities he wasn’t exactly cooperating when they were trying to have a look. They took him to hospital to check him over. He sat there fine and let them have a look, he wouldn’t have done that with us! The staff didn’t go ahead with anything until they had spoken with us about it. We were sent photos and he just seemed fine.
It must have been such a worry for you.
Mike: Yes, it was, but I think the staff acted quite appropriately. From what I can tell there was no panic on your behalf. Everything went through as if he was one of your own children would be the best way I could describe it.
Helen: We were called and told Ben was fine. He was smiling and happy and we were sent a photograph of them all sitting in the car afterwards.
What does Supertroop mean to your family?
Mike: It’s a godsend for us. When Ben is at Supertroop it’s the only chance Helen and I get to have a break for ourselves really. It’s the only chance we get to go abroad anywhere. It gives us a chance to recharge and gives us a chance to relax, knowing that Ben will be happy and safe and well. We are not looking forward to when he can’t go anymore, that’s how much we like it.
Helen: It’s a chance for me and Mike to get some sort of break. We get no other respite at the moment, Supertroop is all we have.
Is there anything else you would like to share about Supertroop or anything else you would like to say?
Mike: I can’t speak highly enough about Supertroop, I would recommend it to anyone.
Helen: It’s a pity it doesn’t happen more, it’s a pity it isn’t two weeks a year.
Mike: Yeah. If you had the funding to put it on more than once a year then we would put Ben in every time you have it.
Helen: Can’t speak highly enough of the staff either. Last time one of the sixth formers started crying because he was going to miss Ben so much. They become so attached to them all.
Mike: He was in tears having to say goodbye to Ben.
Helen: And the activities you do. He’s been to Eastlinks Farm. Ben had an absolute blast when he was there with Supertroop. And the swimming, he loves the swimming.
Mike: Ben prefers his own space, he prefers to do his own thing, but you accommodate that as well.
Helen: I’ve got a video of him with two helpers and he's sitting on his bum and he’s bum shuffling down the stairs and they are sitting alongside him and bum shuffling down the stairs with him. They do what he wants to do and enjoy it.