Life at XUK Activity
Some residential summer camps specialise in a narrow range of specific activities.
Others arrange for children to be constantly on the move from place to place.
At XUK we combine the best of both. Our focus is on providing a wide spectrum of exciting activities and events.
Most are based on-site however we also offer a series of excursions to some of England’s most interesting and exhilarating places.
We promote healthy eating and choice. Breakfast options include continental and traditional cooked. Lunch and dinner always include:
- A wholesome main meal
- A vegetarian main meal option
- Salad/pasta bar
- Tasty dessert
- Fresh fruit
Our BBQs have become famous from Scotland to Spain, so we now have two per week!
Safety underpins everything we do. We're regulated by OFSTED. Here is a link to our last inspection at XUK where we received an 'outstanding' rating.
We do much more than just meet OFSTED's requirements. We've created our own safety system and have implemented all of the following:
We safety-check every room before any activity is allowed to take place within it
There is a member of staff on security duty at the entrance to camp throughout the day. The management team do a lock up each night to ensure all areas are safe and can not be accessed from outside. We risk-assess every activity that takes place at camp - All our staff undergo full training before camp starts each year. We also offer first aid courses. All our staff under go suitability checks. We use the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), POCA and list 99 databases to carry these out
We have matrons (all registered nurses) at XUK in charge of health and safety and first aid. They also look after ill children, medicin administration, hygiene and cleanliness
We'd completely understand if you'd like to call and chat about specific safety issues at camp. If you have the time, here's a link to our Policies and Procedures.
Children at camp always have an opportunity to call home each week. We also encourage them to send postcards and letters. If you’d like to contact your children, we have a camp phone line and email address too.
Many children and teens now carry mobile phones. To ensure every ‘camper’ is getting the most out of XUK we have some simple rules. All junior and intermediate phones will be kept in the office; This ensures they are safe and not being misused. Teens may keep their phones but only use them out of activities and meal times.
Firstly when you book your child (Juniors, 6-9s, can only sleep inside) chooses whether to sleep inside in our dormitories (bunk rooms) or whether to sleep in our 'luxury T-bells' which are outside. Both options are very popular and run out quickly. Many choose do do a week in and a week out.
Having chosen where to sleep, every child coming to camp can choose with whom they’d like to share with. Many of our children at camp come alone, so we make a special effort to make sure we put each individual in a friendly and fun dorm/T-bell with similar aged children.
As you'd imagine, dorms come in all shapes and sizes (T-bells are all the same size). Dorms and T-bells are divided by age and gender, so boys and girls only share with others in the same age group.
Each child has a ‘pastoral team leader’ who they can turn to for support or advice at any stage of camp.
We run an XUK bank which will look after your child’s pocket money. On a daily basis money can be signed in and out to spend at our tuck shop, arcades or on trips! All transactions are monitored.
Every week, our staff vote for the camper who embodies everything we love about XUK. The ‘Citizen of the Week’ will be helpful, fun, caring and enthusiastic all week long. And you’ll love it if your child wins because we’ll invite them back to camp next year for one week free of charge!