Jacob's story: reaching new heights at the climbing wall

Jacob's story: reaching new heights at the climbing wall

Jacob is a young adult carer who lives at home with his parents and helps care for his brother, who has Down syndrome and a learning disability. Alongside his caring responsibilities, Jacob is studying at college and is working towards a future career in fitness, with the ambition of becoming a personal trainer.

During conversations with his Carer Support Practitioner, Jacob spoke about his passion for fitness and his goal of building a career in this area. Together they explored opportunities through the Time to Live voucher scheme that would support his interests, help him develop new skills, and provide a meaningful break from his caring responsibilities. Through the scheme, Jacob was able to access a series of climbing wall sessions. The vouchers removed any financial barriers, allowing him to focus entirely on enjoying the activity and challenging himself without worrying about the cost.

"Being able to access these climbing sessions using the vouchers took away any worries I had about the cost. It also meant I didn't have to carry cash or think about payments. Everything was organised in advance, so I could just focus on enjoying the sessions and getting the most out of them."

The climbing sessions gave Jacob valuable time away from his caring role, allowing him to focus on his own wellbeing, confidence, and personal development. Through climbing, Jacob was able to set himself new goals, test his abilities, and experience a sense of achievement as his skills improved. The sessions also created opportunities to meet new people who shared similar interests, helping him build friendships and strengthen his social connections.

For Jacob, the climbing wall provided a positive outlet where he could focus on his own interests, develop confidence, and enjoy a sense of independence. The experience helped him maintain a healthy balance between his caring responsibilities, education, and personal ambitions.

Find out more about Time to Live here.