Lisa’s newfound passion for travel

Lisa, a person we support in Aberdeen, has recently returned from the holiday of a lifetime in Rome and has discovered a passion for travel. Accompanied by her Support Worker, Scott, they experienced a week-long adventure filled with culture, history and unforgettable moments.

Lisa smiles in front of the colosseum in Rome. She is sat in her wheelchair wearing a navy bucket hat, white t-shirt, blue jeans and sunglasses. The trip marks Lisa’s fourth holiday with Scott, the pair having previously visited Manchester, London and Amsterdam. Before this, Lisa had never been on a holiday or a plane before.

Scott said, “It’s been fantastic supporting Lisa to explore new places and travel the world. She’s now 70 years old and had never left the UK until last year, when I took her to Amsterdam. It just shows you that age shouldn’t be a barrier and it’s never too late to empower the people you support to try new things in life and to be adventurous.”

“Lisa had seen videos of Rome on the TV and had her heart set on visiting there for her next holiday – especially as she’d seen that King Charles had visited recently, and she’s a big fan of the Royal Family. We compiled some different options of hotels and Lisa decided where would stay, and together we made a list of all the key places she wanted to visit too, making up our itinerary.”

During their stay in Rome, Lisa and Scott explored some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Lisa looked on in awe before the ancient Colosseum, explored the grand halls of the Vatican, and delighted in the beauty of the Trevi Fountain – one of the highlights of her trip. She also immersed herself in Italian culture, sampling authentic local cuisine, enjoying the sunny weather and soaking up the city’s vibrant street life.

Lisa on the left smiles to camera with a pink ice cream and Scott is on the right, smiling to camera with a yellow ice crea. Both have sunglasses on and are outside a shop front in Rome.

Reflecting on the trip, Scott said, “It was so heart-warming to see Lisa’s face as she took in all the culture and architecture, getting to see the places she’d dreamt of visiting. She was very proud to say that she has stood where the king has stood – and it was a privilege to share the experience with her.”

Lisa said, “I’ve found a new love for travel and I had the best time in Rome – it was absolutely amazing. I loved seeing all the sights, eating lots of delicious Italian food and visiting new places. It’s a holiday I will never forget!”