EmpowerUSH Retreat – Cardiff 2025

Earlier this month I travelled to Cardiff for the first ever EmpowerUSH Retreat, hosted by Usher Kids UK — and what a weekend it was!

This year has been a pilot for the Empower USH programme, supporting young people aged 17 to 25 with Usher Syndrome as we work towards our goals for adulthood. The retreat was our chance to finally meet in person again and celebrate all the progress we’ve made after so many months of online calls and work. 

🚆 Friday – The Adventure Begins

The journey to Cardiff began straight after college with a train into London — my first big trip using Passenger Assistance without my parents. The staff guided me to the platforms and helped me find my seat, which made the journey smoother… if only there hadn’t been so many delays!

Luckily, I met up with the southern crew along the way, and that made everything better. We passed the time chatting, joking, and laughing through the hold-ups. At one point, I even managed to give someone a fright — they thought I was stuck on a train when I was actually having a grand old time zooming around in a buggy at the station!

By the time we reached Cardiff (close to 11 p.m.), we were all a bit delirious. Somewhere along the journey, one of our group found a broken train handle on the luggage rack, which instantly became our emotional support handle. From then on, it was basically part of the team.

We finally got to our Airbnb and ended up chatting until nearly 1 a.m., winding down and recovering from the long but hilarious trip.

🎭 Saturday – Comic Con Chaos

Saturday was all about Cardiff Comic Con! After a breakfast of full English with all the trimmings, we got dressed up in our chosen costumes and had a mini photoshoot before heading out. The walk there was its own challenge — those traffic lights took forever to change and most didn’t even beep!


Image one - A Photoshoot at the Airbnb with people in costume

Inside, the venue was packed with colour and creativity. We explored the rows of stalls — from the usual swords and pin badges to the wonderfully random. One highlight was finding a DVD that felt like it was made just for me (for only £4!), and another was discovering a stall selling massive slabs of rocky road.

In the afternoon, we took part in a Jedi lightsaber training session — easily one of my favourite parts of the day. The lightsabers lit up brightly, which made it much easier to see the moves. We learned a short sequence of strikes and blocks that mimicked a real duel (minus the risk of losing any limbs). The only thing that could’ve made it even better? If the lightsabers made those classic “whoosh” noises too!

Image 2 - Everyone at Jedi Lightsaber Training

We must’ve looked quite the pair as Sonic and Donna, our costumed personas for the day practiced. The funniest moment came when Donna tried to stuff her wedding dress into her trousers during practice — which later fell through mid-fight in the most suspicious way imaginable. Cue uncontrollable laughter!

🍽️ Sunday – Homeward Bound

The last day of any trip is always bittersweet. We spent the morning playing games at the Airbnb and sharing a Sunday lunch at a pub before heading to the station for our afternoon trains.

Image Three - The group smiling around their roast dinners

The journey home felt different — calmer, more reflective. We were all tired but proud. We’d done it: travelled to Cardiff and back on our own, navigated Passenger Assistance, and learned so much along the way.

Of course, my leg of the trip couldn’t end without some extra drama! I got stuck on the train tracks due to an incident on the line, which made for even more stories to share later. At one point, a staff member gave me a crash course in how to use the onboard loo (pun very much intended).

Despite the chaos, the train crew were amazing — they already knew I’d booked Passenger Assistance and made sure I understood what was happening. Other passengers even repeated the announcements for me. I was eventually upgraded to First Class, which turned out to be a blessing because those seats were incredibly comfy!

By the time I got home, I was exhausted but happy. I’d officially earned my new title: Train Warrior of the Group.

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