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HCPT Easter Lourdes
Assisting children and young people with special needs
This is the 52nd year of HCPT, with more than 30 years of BCYS involvement.
Every year a group aged 18+ travel to Lourdes on Easter Sunday to join over 5,000 people from the UK.
HCPT make Lourdes a special place for children with different needs - there are those who are severely physically and mentally restricted and those with behavioural needs.
We travel to help the "family groups" - those who bring children from England - and to help HCPT in the big events that it organises during the week.
This trip is filled with the spirit of Lourdes - it is a wonderful witness to faith, as well as great fun and hard work.
You can find out more about HCPT at the HCPT website. For more information on Lourdes generally visit Lourdes Online.
What is Easter Lourdes with the BCYS about?
Lourdes is the place where Mary appeared to St Bernadette, by the river Gave in 1858. Every year hundreds of thousands of people travel to pray at the shrine, and to bathe in the waters which have been associated with many miraculous healings.
HCPT is made up of family groups - each with 8-10 children, and 12-15 adults. We are a different type of group - a service group, and we help the 5,000 people who are part of family groups. We put on parties for them, help them with face paints and art, and accompany them on trips where they need extra help in looking after the children. We also do things which serve the whole of HCPT - controlling the crowds at the large events, and welcoming pilgrims into the baths in Lourdes.
You will receive briefing and training, and be paired up with people who have been before. You will also have a CRB check, and specific training in safe working with children. Our Easter trip is open to thirty young people aged 18+ when we travel. The age restriction is because of the work we do in Lourdes, as described above.
The cost of the trip this year is £400. To apply please download and send in the booking form available below. For more information, please contact the office on 01277 265286 or email info@bcys.net.
Download Covering Letter »
Download Application Form »
To look at the photo archive from previous trips, please click here.