Funding supports SuperTroop volunteers
SuperTroop provides residential holidays for children and young people with learning disabilities and complex needs aged 8-19 years.
Edinburgh based charity SuperTroop received £3,000 from the Rooney Family Foundation in January 2025 for a quality improvement programme for volunteers.
SuperTroop was established in 2017 and bi-annually provides week-long residential holidays for 16 children and young people with learning disabilities and complex needs aged 8-19 years. Based at Fettes College and run by volunteers, the organisation offers 24/7 one-to-one support, enabling holiday-makers to enjoy a variety of on-site and off-site activities. These holidays provide a rare opportunity for young people to experience independence in a safe and joyful environment while their families receive valuable respite. The programme also offers young volunteers a meaningful experience as caregivers and companions, fostering personal growth, and connection.
The Project:
SuperTroop received £3,000 from the Rooney Family Foundation in January 2025 for a quality improvement programme for volunteers. This included refreshing volunteer induction and core skills training, renewing qualifications in low-arousal approaches, crisis management, first aid, and introducing new workshops on managing chronic health conditions and volunteer stress. These enhancements reflect SuperTroop’s commitment to continuous improvement and its dedication to meeting the complex needs of holiday-makers and supporting its volunteers effectively.
The Impact
The grant helped SuperTroop reinvest in one of the most vital parts of its organisation: the volunteers.
The volunteers not only deliver the holiday week but also run the charity and raise funds through sponsored activities. The services and support are completely dependent on this pool of highly-skilled and dedicated volunteers. Not recognising and supporting them could have significant consequences for the organisation so acknowledging their contributions and ensuring they feel safe, supported, and valued is essential. As one parent put it: “The volunteers were exceptional, they made sure everything was put in place for my child”.
The funding meant SuperTroop could cover both the essential training (first-aid and crisis management) and team building session costs as well as the volunteer travel to attend these training sessions ahead of the holiday, something that proved invaluable to this volunteer:
“There was a number of times where the communication training was very effective, particularly the use of 'one voice' in those more challenging situations.”
In July 2025, the organisation delivered a successful week-long residential holiday, welcoming 16 young people with learning disabilities and complex needs. The group was supported by a dedicated team of 49 volunteers, including pupil volunteers, group leaders, and senior team members with specialist skills. SuperTroop also successfully recruited additional volunteers and supported more carers during the 2025 holiday than initially anticipated, which had a positive impact.
Holidaymakers enjoyed a wide range of activities including community trips to East Links Family Park, Portobello beach, and trampolining at Fountainbridge. The days spent onsite were equally as fun with cupcake decorating, swimming, t-shirt making and evening entertainment with live music and dancing and more. This year, more choice was introduced in the timetable, especially for older and more independent holidaymakers.
Each week-long holiday is delivered by approximately 45 volunteers, ranging from current sixth-form pupils to senior team members with extensive experience in fields such as teaching, psychology, medicine, and nursing. While contributing to service provision, the volunteers also gain significant personal benefit and enjoyment. Annual post-holiday surveys show that volunteers consistently report having ‘learnt new skills’ and ‘developed as a person,’ with feedback including comments such as “It was such an eye-opening experience and an incredible week” and “I loved my time on the residential and can't wait for next year.”
The holiday offers a vital break for carers and families, a sense of independence for holidaymakers, and fosters community engagement and learning development for volunteers. Overall, the positive impact the short break has on mental health and overall well-being on everyone is clear for all to see.