Over The Wall Camp, a magical place for children and young people with long-term health conditions
As a result of long-term health conditions, more than 1 in 10 children* in the UK can be denied a carefree childhood, and this number is growing**.
For many of these children, quality of life may be adversely affected by isolation and their inability to participate in many of the everyday activities enjoyed by their friends and peers. This often results in a growing lack of self-esteem and confidence which can become a barrier to future growth and development.
Over The Wall is a UK based charity for children with serious illness and disabilities, and their families, to discover a world of mischief and magic. A place where they can be brave and have fun with others. These amazing places are physical – in residential camps and also available online – with Camp in the Cloud. And what’s more, it’s all free!
Their everyday challenges are unique and special. Attending a transformational camp or experience allows them to leave that all at the gate. They get reminded of what it means to be a child. They get to laugh, dance and cause mischief all in a safe relaxed environment.
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, Over The Wall provides a safe environment for children and young people to build confidence and self-esteem whilst first-class medical care ensures our unique ability to cater for more than 130 different conditions.
Residential Camps
Over The Wall's free residential camps are more than just a holiday. Campers have transformational experiences when they join us for either 3 or 5 days. You can step into the camp bubble, where our meaningful activity programme has been designed to be inclusive and help every camper succeed. Whether you make new friends, take on the climbing wall, or find a new talent, you should leave camp feeling proud. Over The Wall Camp is where many children and young people with health challenges grow their confidence, form lifelong bonds, and feel more independent than ever before. To make camp possible for you, our medical team of nurses, doctors and paramedics are there at all times. Camp is a safe and supportive environment for you to step outside your comfort zone. Camps are in several locations for campers across the UK, all with bedrooms and bathrooms so you’ll have a comfortable place to rest and won’t have to pitch a tent!
Camp in the Cloud
Camp in the Cloud is an online camp-at-home activity programme that allows your family to spend quality time together with no cost or planning involved for you. You’ll receive your own Seriously Fun Box in the post which contains everything you need to take part. This box is packed full of games and activities, as well as other goodies and surprises! Camp in the Cloud is run on specific dates by our Over The Wall Camp team and volunteers who are ready to bring the Over The Wall Camp magic to you! During your experience, you’ll have exclusive password-protected access to the Camp in the Cloud online platform. Here, you can chat to the other families and take part in various live activities. You can also enjoy the message boards, photo galleries, games, and guided activities.
Our Core Values and Mission
As a result of long-term health conditions, more than 1 in 10 children in the UK can be denied a carefree childhood, and this number is growing.
Over The Wall Camp empowers children and families to explore new possibilities to rediscover the fun and magic of childhood.
At Over The Wall, our core principles are all about creating a safe, inclusive, and trustworthy environment where fun and friendship thrive!
We believe in the magic of coming together, where everyone—campers, staff, and volunteers—can truly be themselves, make new friends, and pursue their potential. With these guiding principles, we’re building a place where every child can shine and discover just how amazing they really are!
BELONGING
AUTHENTICITY
GROWTH
Our Story
It was after the businessman Joe Woods, had arranged for children from the UK to be flown to The Hole in The Wall Gang camp in the US, that a friendship between himself and Paul Newman, actor, philanthropist and camp founder, developed. In 1999, the two of them decided to set up a camp in the UK, which was later named Over The Wall Gang Camp.
When the charity was first launched, it catered for 25 children with cancer. After that first camp, the charity went from strength to strength, providing camps for various illnesses across several different locations in the UK.
*Chronic Conditions in Children and Young People: Learning from the Administrative Data, UCL Institute of Child Health 2016
** Make Every Child Count, University of York 2020
