USHthis Camp UK 2025

🏕️ USHthis UK Camp 2025 – My Fourth Year, My Second as a Mentor

Last Saturday, on the 26th of July, I travelled down to Fairplay House in Essex for my fourth USHthis UK camp — and my second year attending as a Mentor.

🌍 A Global Movement with Local Magic

USH This began in the US back in 2019 and made its way across the pond in 2022, with the first UK camp held at Ghyll Head House in the Lake District. I’m so thankful it did.

This camp is crazy and chaotic, in the very best way. It’s a place where time is but a concept, sleep is rare, and fun is constant. It’s loud, energetic, emotional, and above all, it’s a space where those of us with Usher syndrome can just be ourselves, completely and unapologetically.

💥 Adventures, Baking & New Challenges

With the support of our amazing Hearing and Sighted staff and volunteers, we pushed ourselves to new heights — literally. We climbed the high ropes course, plunged into lakes at the inflatable water park, and embraced brilliantly chaotic activities like welly walking.

Anna on the high ropes course

This year was particularly special for me because I led an activity for the first time: Baking! It was messy, fun, and full of laughs — just how it should be. We even summoned a blob army when decorating!
Cupcakes from the baking session

🧠 Connection, Support & Blobs

Alongside my fellow UK mentors — and one brilliant Aussie — we helped run activities like:

  • DisUSH sessions before dinner

  • Blob therapy in the evenings (our safe space to check in emotionally with our campers)

  • Key moments like Burn It and the Campfire on Thursday 

I came home with sore hands from chanting after meals, a voice that had given up by the end, and a huge smile on my face.

Holding the candle at campfire on Thursday

🎉 Favourite Moments? Impossible to Choose

There’s always something happening at camp — it’s hard to pick a favourite. The water park was incredible, but so was our legendary final-night dance party, where we all belted out the lyrics to our favourite songs together. A week of pure fun.

💪 Growing Every Year

Every camp, I feel myself growing — stepping more fully into my role as a mentor. Whether that means being there to help a camper, or simply showing them by example that Usher syndrome doesn’t hold us back, it matters.

I watched campers:

  • Conquer fears like heights

  • Try new things like their water devices

  • Celebrate the small wins, like getting a bullseye in archery or even going to bed on time

Each moment mattered.

💬 A Place Where No Explanations Are Needed

There’s something incredibly powerful about being surrounded by other young people who just get it.

No awkward explanations when I ask someone to repeat what they said.
No strange looks.
Just honesty, understanding, and genuine connections.

🤝 What USHthis Is Really About

At its heart, USHthis is about connections.
It’s about building friendships, creating a community, and knowing there are people out there who understand your experience — and are cheering you on.

It’s a community I hope continues to grow in the years ahead.
Whether it’s current campers stepping into mentor roles, new campers joining for the first time, or international mentors from the US or Australia (who hosted their first USH This camp earlier in July!) — there’s always room for more.

💙 Until Next Time…

Camp might only last a week, but the memories, growth, and friendships last so much longer.
It’s hard to put into words just how much this space means to me — and how lucky I feel to be part of it.

Here’s to more laughs, more breakthroughs, and more dancing like no one’s watching.

Here’s to USHthis UK 2026 — I can’t wait to do it all again!




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