Friday 16th – Sunday 18th October 2026 • Blairvadach, Scotland
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Connected families weekend
Friday 16th – Sunday 18th October 2026
Blairvadach, Scotland.
A FREE weekend bringing dispersed Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary families, couples & individuals together for outdoor adventures, shared experiences and time to connect at Blairvadach.
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A weekend filled with exploration and adventure, with all food and accommodation included.
Eligibility:
For families whose serving person is based at HMNB Clyde who do not live in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) and/or live more than 10 miles away from HMNB Clyde.
An action-packed day with food included, to connect as a family and meet other service families.
Eligibility:
For families whose serving person is based at HMNB Clyde who live in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) and/or live within 10 miles of HMNB Clyde.
The weekend is enabled through Connected Communities, a new project between Greenwich Hospital and the Andrew Simpson Foundation to strengthen the communities in which Royal Navy people and their families live, supported by the Royal Navy.
Friday 16th – Sunday 18th October 2026
If you live away from an established Royal Navy community, it can sometimes feel harder to meet other families who share similar experiences. The Connected Families Weekend brings dispersed families together for two nights of activities, connection and fun.
From Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, you’ll have the chance to:
- Spend quality time together as a family
- Meet other Royal Navy families living away from base communities
- Take part in instructor-led outdoor activities
- Enjoy informal opportunities to talk, relax and make new connections
- Join sessions designed for families, adults and children
- Explore themes such as wellbeing, resilience and sustainability
The weekend is fully funded and includes:
- Two nights accommodation
- Meals from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime
- Activities lead by qualified Blairvadach instructors
- All equipment needed for the activities
- Use of the centre’s indoor and outdoor facilities
Activity weekend eligibility:
To be eligible for this weekend, your family must have an active serving person at HMNB Clyde and be:
- Living in SFA more than 10 miles from HMNB Clyde, or
- Not living in SFA and living more than 10 miles from HMNB Clyde
Complete our expression-of-interest form and a member of the team will contact you with further information. Spaces are limited, and offered on a first-come-first-served so early responses are encouraged:
Saturday 17th October 2026
Our activity day is all about getting outdoors, trying something new and spending time together. With a mix of instructor-led activities and relaxed time to connect, there’s something for everyone. On our activity day at Blairvadach, you and your family can get active, explore the outdoors or simply enjoy being together. Together you’ll have the chance to:
- Spend quality time together as a family
- Meet other Royal Navy families living away from base communities
- Take part in instructor-led outdoor activities
- Enjoy informal opportunities to talk, relax and make new connections
- Join sessions designed for families, adults and children
- Explore themes such as wellbeing, resilience and sustainability
The activity day is fully funded and includes:
- Saturday lunch and dinner
- Activities lead by qualified Blairvadach instructors
- All equipment needed for the activities
- Use of the centre’s indoor and outdoor facilities
Activity day eligibility:
To be eligible for this weekend, your family must have an active serving person at HMNB Clyde and be:
- Living in SFA within 10 miles of HMNB Clyde, or
- Not living in SFA but living within 10 miles of HMNB Clyde
Complete our expression-of-interest form and a member of the team will contact you with further information. Spaces are limited, and offered on a first-come-first-served so early responses are encouraged:
Blairvadach Outdoor Education Centre offers an exciting range of activities on the waterfront and in the surrounding countryside.
Depending on the weather and the programme for your weekend, activities may include:
Sailing
Paddlesports
Cycling
Climbing
Ropes course
Gorge walking
Scrambling
Orienteering
Hillwalking & exploration
Pond, seashore & seascape discovery
Please be aware that no particular activity is guaranteed, and the final programme will be created around the participating group, weather conditions and safety requirements.
Location
The weekend will take place at: Blairvadach Outdoor Education Centre, Rhu, Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, G84 8NN.
Accommodation
Accommodation, meals and activities are free, funded by Greenwich Hospital through the Connected Communities project.
Who it’s for
Accommodation, meals and activities are free, funded by Greenwich Hospital through the Connected Communities project.
Who can attend
This event is open to individuals, couples and families. If attending with children, a parent or guardian must attend the weekend. There is no requirement for your serving person to attend, but they are, of course, very welcome if they are able to.
Minimum age
Children must be aged 5 or over due to the activities offered throughout the weekend.
Room allocations
Each family will have a room to themselves. Rooms can accommodate up to four people. Additional rooms can be allocated where required, but an adult must stay in each room.
What to bring
You can find the Blairvadach Centre clothing and equipment list here, which may be useful when preparing for the weekend.
Support with access
If you feel there may be barriers to accessing the weekend, such as the affordability of travel, please complete the form and tell us about them. We may be able to help.
The weekend is open to Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary families whose serving person is based at HMNB Clyde.
Additional eligibility guidance
Living in SFA more than 10 miles from HMNB Clyde
Apply for the residential weekend.
Not living in SFA but living within 10 miles of HMNB Clyde
Apply for the Saturday activity day.
Living in SFA within 10 miles of HMNB Clyde
Apply for the Saturday activity day.
Not living in SFA and living more than 10 miles from HMNB Clyde
Apply for the residential weekend.
Spaces are limited, and offered on a first-come-first-served basis, so we encourage you to register your interest as soon as possible.
We will use your response to confirm eligibility and contact you about next steps.
If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact our outreach team at enquiries@andrewsimpsonfoundation.org.
