Ask most people what a care company does and they will describe the practical things: help with washing and dressing, prompting medication, cooking a meal, and keeping a home safe and clean. All of that matters, and we take it seriously.
But it has never been the whole job.
At ABP Cares we start from a simple belief. The people we support are entitled to the same full life as anyone else. Not just a safe life, but a good one. That means choice, friendship, laughter, and the ordinary pleasure of a good day out. Getting out into the community is not an extra that we add when there is time. It is part of the support itself.
This summer, one of the young men we support has shown exactly what that looks like in practice.
Meet Henry
Henry is a young adult who lives in Enfield with his mum, Sarah. He has been supported by ABP Cares since March 2026, following a referral from Enfield Council. His regular support worker is Elvis.
Henry is very open to trying new things. When Elvis suggests an activity, he will usually say yes, and he gives it his full attention once he is there. He enjoys a bit of competition, and he is just as pleased when someone else does well as when he does.
For the first few weeks our focus was simply on getting to know him and building a routine he could rely on. Once that was settled, we started looking at what he might enjoy doing outside the house.
Trampolining at AirHop Enfield
One of the first places Henry tried was AirHop Adventure and Trampoline Park on Lumina Way, about ten minutes from his home. He took to it straight away.
His first visit was spent in the dodgeball arena, which asks you to jump, aim, dodge and think all at once. He came back the following week for the main court and the light-up reaction wall.
A trampoline park is a busy and noisy environment, so managing it comfortably is an achievement in itself. Henry now moves around it with confidence. The physical benefits are clear as well. A session gives him a full hour of exercise, improves his balance and coordination, and helps him sleep better afterwards.
Trying virtual reality
Virtual reality was completely new to Henry. Elvis explained how the controllers worked and where the safety boundary was, and within a few minutes Henry was standing in the middle of the room and playing confidently.
This was one of the more significant moments of the summer. Being handed unfamiliar equipment in front of other people takes confidence. Henry tried it, enjoyed it, and found that he was good at it. That kind of experience makes the next new activity much easier to say yes to.
Go-karting
Henry has also been go-karting this summer, and he thoroughly enjoyed it.
Karting works well because everyone gets the same kart and the same track. The rules are simple and the feedback is immediate. For someone who enjoys a bit of competition, it is close to ideal.
A round of mini golf
Not every activity needs to be high energy. In August, Henry played a round of adventure golf on a warm afternoon.
Mini golf calls for patience and concentration rather than speed. Henry crouched down to look at the line of each putt before he played it, took his time, and stayed focused for the whole round.
It was a useful reminder that Henry enjoys a wide range of activities, and that his support should reflect that rather than settling into one pattern.
Why days out matter
It would be easy to look at a summer of trampolines and go-karts and treat it as a nice extra. We would disagree. Here is what these afternoons actually achieve.
- Physical health. Regular, enjoyable activity that supports fitness, coordination and sleep, without ever feeling like a set exercise programme.
- Confidence in the community. Busy public places, queues, staff and background noise, all managed successfully and repeatedly. Every good experience makes the next one easier.
- Communication and social skills. Choosing an activity, ordering food, taking turns, and speaking to staff at the desk.
- Choice and control. Henry decides what he wants to try. Our job is to make it possible, not to decide for him.
- Something to look forward to. Anticipation matters. A good week has a highlight in it.
- Support for the whole family. While Henry is out enjoying himself, Sarah has some time of her own. Both of those things count.
Every one of these sits squarely within what good care and support should deliver, and it is exactly what Enfield Council commissions us to provide.
The difference six months has made
Henry has been with us since March. In that time he has become noticeably more confident in busy places, he takes a more active part in choosing what he does, and he is considerably more physically active than he was in the spring. Most importantly, he has clearly enjoyed himself throughout.
Sarah has told us that she is very pleased with how the support is going, and she has passed on her compliments to Enfield Council. We are grateful to her for taking the time to do that.
You can read more about Henry, and how his support has developed, on his story page.
The right person alongside you
None of this works without the right match.
Henry goes out with Elvis, the same familiar face each time. That consistency is what turns an activity into an experience. Elvis knows when to step in and when to stand back, he can tell whether a place is going to work on a given day, and he is good company on the journey there and back.
We spend a great deal of time getting these pairings right, because a support worker is not interchangeable. The relationship is the service.
Talk to us about support
If you are arranging support for a family member, or you are a social worker or commissioner looking for a provider that takes community access seriously, we would be glad to hear from you.
ABP Cares provides domiciliary care and supported living across Enfield, Haringey, Camden, Hackney, Islington and the surrounding boroughs. We are regulated by the Care Quality Commission.
Henry and Sarah kindly gave their permission for his photographs, videos and first name to be shared in this article.