In this section
The Manchester Burns Camp programme provides activities for children under the care of the Burns and Plastics Service at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
Following a traumatic injury such as a burn, patients face many challenges, and the process of recovery can take a long time. Physically arduous, painful dressing changes and repeated trips to hospital for further surgery are combined with regular massage regimes, physiotherapy and the wearing of specialist tight-fitting garments for up to 3 years post-injury to help minimise scarring.
Our patients also have to adapt to their new burn scars, finding a way get back into social and family life and face the reactions of other people. The activities provided by Manchester Children’s Burns Camp are therefore designed to help children up to the age of 16 face these challenges in an atmosphere of fun, support and rehabilitation.
Manchester Children’s Burns Camp began in 1993 with a weekend programme for a small number of burn-injured children and staff. Our weeklong residential camps for children have been running since 1998, and we also hold a variety of day activities each year. In 2008 a Young Adult Burns Camp was started to support both young adults admitted to the adult burns service and to those transferring from children’s to adult services.
All of our camps and day activities are free to attend as they are part of a patient’s rehabilitation programme. The majority of costs are met through grants and charitable donations; Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust supports the programmes by providing staff to run the camps and activities.
How Burns Camp Activities Help
Patients attending burns camps programmes are able to meet and socialise with children with burn injuries just like themselves, as well as meeting adult burn survivors and members of the Burn Care Team away from clinical settings.
Our programmes aim to help patients build their confidence and self-esteem through physically challenging activities such as abseiling or kayaking and to develop friendships and peer support by meeting others with a shared experience of a traumatic injury. Camp is a place where good scar management is encouraged with staff on hand to give help and support, coping strategies are shared, and children learn to face the public with the support of each other.
So, whether they are climbing a cliff face, canoeing across a lake, solving a team challenge, going swimming for the first time since their injury or chatting late into the night, our patients gain far more than a fun holiday or day out. They gain confidence and new skills to help them in the years ahead; they gain friendship and support from others who truly understand their experience.
For more information about Manchester Children’s Burns Camp or if you would like to fundraise on our behalf please contact:
Alison Thomlinson, Burns Camp Coordinator
Tel: 0161 701 8142 (burns office) / 07827 848240 (mobile)
Email: Burns.Camp@mft.nhs.uk
Manchester Children’s Burns Camp
Recurring events:
Summer Camp
Summer Camp occurs every year in July in the Lake District. It is for children and young people aged 8-16.
Winter Camp
Winter Camp occurs every two years during the February half term and is for teenagers aged 13-16.
Past events:
Summer Camp 2025
Thirty-three patients between the ages of 9 and 16 attended the summer camp at Ghyll Head Outdoor Education Centre, Cumbria. The programme included canoeing, ghyll scrambling, zip lining and archery. The older campers explored the mountains while the younger campers enjoyed storytelling in the Tipi with smores. We also had a visit from Zoobidoo with their animals and insects.
Winter Camp 2025
Eight patients between the ages of 13 and 17 attended winter camp held in Bankso, Bulgaria during the February half term. The programme included five days of skiing with a mixture of both ski school and camp leader supervised skiing. With a mid-weekday off visiting the Izgreza thermal baths and ice-skating at the Bankso ice-rink in the afternoon.
Pre-school programme at City of Manchester Institute of Gymnastics 2025
Seven families attended the soft play activity sessions for under 5s throughout the year. The children all enjoyed the soft play on offer with the foam pit and trampolines being the most popular.
Day Activity at Challenge Point 2024
An afternoon of indoor games & challenges was held at Challenge Point Manchester in November. Eleven patients attended along with eight siblings for patients aged 12-16 years. They enjoyed a variety of games and challenges and finished off the afternoon with snacks and time to chat.
Summer Camp 2024
Thirty patients between the ages of 8 and 16 attended the summer camp at Ghyll Head Outdoor Education Centre, Cumbria. The programme included physically challenging activities like canoeing, climbing and abseiling alongside a visit from the Zoobidoo animals, games in the garden, craft activities and two swimming sessions.
Day activity at Rock over Climbing 2024
Twelve patients between 8 and 12 years of age, along with a sibling or friend, came to our activity day. They enjoyed a bouldering session with challenges and games led by the team at Rock Over Climbing and an art and craft session celebrating Chinese New Year led by burns service staff – we made Chinese lanterns. The activity finished with a pizza feast, enjoyed by everyone.
Pre-school class at City of Manchester Institute of Gymnastics 2024
A new venture for 2024 was our soft play activity session for under 5’s. Five families attended, the children all enjoyed the activities on offer, especially jumping on the trampolines and into the foam pit, and parents/carers valued the opportunity to connect with each other.