IN PICTURES: Limavady's Hope Summer Camp has another successful year

The acronym HOPE stands for Help Our Parish Evolve. HOPE Summer Camp started in Limavady Parish in August 2013. The concept was designed by Father James Devine and Leo McCloskey.

Father James Devine was inspired by the Michaela Camp and he felt the need for a similar camp in Limavady. 

He put the idea to Leo McCloskey and from that HOPE Limavady was born. The first camp had 156 children and 57 volunteers.

This year, in its 10th year, all 300 places at HOPE Summer Camp were filled very quickly.

Ciaran O'Kane, who was in the first camp as a 13-year-old and has been every year since, said the ethos of HOPE is summarised in the HOPE slogan; Faith - Fun - Friendship.

"HOPE aims to reinvigorate the faith lives of the youth of the parish. Primarily this is done through daily faith formation activities but also through healthy social interactions in Sport, Art and Team Building," he said.

"HOPE is a parish event. Nearly 100 volunteers of all ages assist in the delivery of the programme.

"We attract volunteers from all denominations and backgrounds. In recent years I have been a volunteer, and now I help organise the camp as a committee member.  

"Since 2014 all 300 places in the camp have gone quickly. HOPE has grown from strength to strength.

"Our children experience a multitude of sporting, artistic and cultural events. The camp is a safe place, a mobile phone-free place and a place where  young people will experience a variety of activities together, and get an opportunity to chat with their peers."

In recent years the success of HOPE has inspired other local Parishes like Claudy, Banagher and this year Dungiven to set up camps. HOPE Limavady have helped assist them set up their camps.

Ciaran continued: "We’ve come a long way from the two people at our first meeting. We have had a golden ten years of HOPE, signified by the gold writing on our tops this year.

"Our outstanding success is down entirely to the incredible support of all our parishioners.

"A lot of hard work and sacrifice has gone into the past 10 years and the challenge for us as a Parish is to ensure we are here again in 2033 celebrating 20 years of HOPE.

"So many of our volunteers this year were children in the camp, and in the years to come we hope they take on leadership roles within this incredible organisation.

"It is amazing how much HOPE has grown in the past 10 years and how we have created something very special and unique here in Limavady in such a short period- with the camp itself and through the various events we have hosted. 

"We have brought all ages and the whole community together. It’s more than just a summer camp."