WAY marks 10th anniversary of Father’s Day activity weekend at YHA National Forest

July 2026

WAY members came together to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the WAY activity weekend at YHA National Forest, enjoying a memorable break over Father’s Day in the heart of the National Forest in South Derbyshire.

More than 40 members and their children stayed at YHA National Forest, with a further 10 local WAY members joining the group for the annual visit to the nearby Conkers Discovery Centre. Families arrived on Friday evening to a warm welcome and a ready-prepared dinner, settling quickly into a relaxed atmosphere with plenty of outdoor space for children to explore and play.

Alison, from Lancashire, booked onto the weekend after previously joining a WAY holiday in Dovedale, Derbyshire. She was keen to have another opportunity to meet others with shared similar experiences and to enjoy time away in a supportive setting:

“I booked the weekend with my 13-year-old, Sam,” she says, “as it looked like a fun weekend with the chance for Sam to get involved with, and a good chance for them to socialise with children of a similar age and who have the shared experience of losing a parent too soon.”

“We struck it lucky with the weather,” she adds. “It was so nice to be able to sit outside and chat in the evening. It was great to spend time with people where I didn’t have to explain about being widowed. Andy died almost two years ago, and WAY have been an absolute lifeline since then.”

On Saturday, the group made the short walk through the National Forest to Conkers Discovery Centre, where a full day of activities awaited. From a 4D cinema experience and the high and low ropes courses, to maze exploration, “The Warrens” tunnels and kayaking on the canal, there was something for all ages and confidence levels. Back at the accommodation, children and adults continued the fun with games, including table tennis and UNO, alongside relaxed time together in the evening sunshine.

For Sam, the weekend brought new experiences and a sense of personal growth:

“After having spent nearly three days on this trip, doing activities and making friends, I believe that, from this weekend, I have taken away a newfound confidence in myself and some better social skills. This is because, even though my most intense fear is of heights, I managed to face that fear and go along the low ropes course after initially wanting to avoid the activity. Also, I am a fairly subdued person, I like to keep to myself and be independent around those I don’t know, resulting in a limited amount of social skills. Despite this, throughout the trip, I managed to build new friendships through games of table tennis and UNO.”

WAY’s Head of Operations and Partnerships Colette reflected on the weekend as a milestone moment for the trip, which has now been running for a decade:

“It was wonderful to return to YHA National Forest over Father’s Day weekend, exactly 10 years after we first launched this popular trip,” she says. “As always, one of the highlights was seeing new friendships blossom while long-standing ones grew even stronger. Thanks to the beautiful weather, everyone was also able to make the most of the hostel's peaceful grounds, spending relaxed evenings together outdoors. It’s weekends like these that remind us just how valuable the support and friendships within WAY can be.”