H2O Lock-in
Over the past three years, Hope 2 Oban has held the Lock-in event at Atlantis Leisure, the main recreational centre in Oban. Over the three events, 500 + high-school aged young people have spent 10 hours through the night taking part in swimming, lacrosse, badminton, football, tiddly-winks, play-station games, squash-cinema, sleeping, drum workshops and much more. In addition to the more obvious opportunities for these young folks to benefit physically, they have experienced a glimpse of community living where focussed social interaction is very different to that of the every day. They have had the opportunity to make choices from an array of "active" and indeed "non-active" possibilities. "Do I go crazy in the sports hall and pool all night or chill with my pals?", "Do I do what I know and enjoy or do I try new things?".
Within this mini society, the benefits far outweigh the occasional adolescent challenges which are in themselves informal life opportunities to learn. The benefits of partnership working have added to the value of the event, both for the young folks, H2O workers and volunteers along with the partners. Oban Youth Cafe, the SSC, Community Police, the Community Support team and the team members from Atlantis Leisure have been some of the groups who have considered this as an extremely worthwhile town-wide event, not hesitating to renew their support annually. For the future, H2O anticipate a Lock-in for S1 pupils only, affording the opportunity to develop a new forum for older year groups. The hope is to avoid the 'been there, done that' syndrome as well as to work towards and develop the new event very much in conjunction with the young people.
"The annual H20 overnight Lock-in ....is an excellent example of (working together) and is certainly one of the highlights of the year.......H20 have a very professional attitude to organising events. This makes it very easy from our point of view when events are on in our centre and when we assist H20 in other events....Partnership is one of the key priorities when planning events and activities, and I feel the work between H20 and Atlantis Leisure..... provides great benefits to the area we work and live in."
Neil Innes, Playsport Manager, Atlantis Leisure.
"I have had very positive comments from all Officers involved with H2O and am more than happy to offer my continued support."
Inspector Neil Wallace, Strathclyde Police.