Our fourth annual UpLift Weekender took place in Liverpool from 19th–21st June, bringing together 13 young adults with muscle-weakening conditions for a packed weekend of friendship, confidence-building and unforgettable memories.

Returning to the fantastic Novotel Paddington Village, the hotel boasts incredible access for disabled people, with plenty of accessible rooms, including one with a ceiling track hoist, making it the perfect place for our community to come together once again.

After settling in and getting to know each other over food and a quiz on Friday evening, Saturday was packed with activities. Participants got creative during Lego team-building with Avva Experience, explored their strengths in our Elevator of Confidence workshop, and heard inspiring stories and practical advice during a Q&A with older disabled adults sharing their experiences of independent living, work and travel.

One participant said:

“I learnt how to feel more confident and less nervous around people.”

We also explored our Hoist in Hotels campaign, with participants creating social media content and learning how to campaign for change by writing to decision-makers.

Saturday night brought plenty of laughter with a dressed-up dinner, casino games and board games, before Sunday’s Liverpool treasure hunt gave everyone the chance to explore the city together, solve puzzles and enjoy the sunshine.

Reflecting on the weekend, one participant said:

“I would definitely come to a similar event. You can connect with so many other people who have different muscle-weakening conditions. You can also learn a lot about positive thinking and your mindset if you are struggling with your confidence. The best thing for me was meeting people and also the workshops, so definitely come!”

The weekend wasn’t just special for those who attended. Pathfinders staff member Sam summed it up perfectly:

“I enjoyed bringing members of the community together for a fun weekend. I really enjoyed meeting new faces and old faces, and I really loved bonding with members of the community. I thought it was a really lovely experience.”

From building confidence and independence to making new friends and strengthening our community, UpLift Weekender 2026 was a weekend to remember.

We know just how valuable these weekends are for the young people we support – not only because of what they learn through the workshops and activities, but also because of the friendships they build, the confidence they gain and the fun they have together.

We’re incredibly grateful to the National Lottery for making our Weekender events possible over the past few years. However, this funding has now come to an end. We’ll soon be launching a fundraising campaign to help save the UpLift Weekender so that more young people can benefit from these life-changing experiences in the future.

If you or your organisation could help support the campaign, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can keep the UpLift Weekender going for years to come.