Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: Camps offer valuable opportunities for creating a supportive environment of like-minded people with similar experiences of living with diabetes, thereby promoting self-efficacy, wellbeing and a healthy life style. In the midst of a post-Covid cost of living crisis, finance was identified as a major obstacle for families wishing to attend residential diabetes camps. A sustainable strategy, supported by co-production with young people, was needed to facilitate access to Camp Charnwood in Leicestershire.

Method: Almost £6000 was raised through a sponsored London to Brighton cycle ride. The camp was then heavily promoted at diagnosis and during clinic visits. In order to establish the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of reintroducing an established diabetes camp after lockdown, children, parents and helpers were surveyed as part of a (Plan-Do-Study-Act) PDSA cycle to increase participation for future camps.Results• Attendance increased from 1 to 7 families from our Trust compared to the previous year• Enough money was raised to provide transport• The activities were tailored to consider the suggestions polled in the questionnaire. For example, a more inclusive, wheelchair friendly terrain for the 5-mile walk, separate activities for older children, a parallel programme for parents providing opportunities to share ideas, good practice and more time to meet with the attending Diabetes Doctor and Specialist Diabetes Nurse, and avoiding the large queues at Alton Towers by staying with Drayton Manor• The PDSA cycle will continue and data added to the final poster/presentation as camp runs again this JulyConclusionFundraising and promotion increased participation from our Trust for the 2023 camp, and will continue. Children demonstrated improved knowledge, self-efficacy and overall well-being as evidenced by their participation, fun and enthusiasm in camp activities. Children without diabetes were also overheard to use diabetes related language such as ‘hypos’, ‘time in range’ and ‘I keep getting alerts from someone running high’ for the first time. This was good for normalisation. Moreover, the camp provided a nurturing environment fostering empathy, shared experiences, friendship and emotional support, boosting both parental and child engagement and a positive sense of belonging where everybody ‘just gets it’.