A charity serving those with special needs and disabilities in Bermuda has raised enough cash to help give some of its clients an experience of a lifetime.

Beyond Inclusion raised $40,000 as part of its Passport to Possibilities initiative which will give eight of the charity’s adult participants a fully funded five-day, four-night leisure trip in February 2026.

They will be heading to Orlando, Florida, affording them the chance to explore new places and experience inclusive recreational activities that are not available on island, while building independence and discovering the joy of leisure travel.

The clients, selected through community nominations based on specific criteria, will be accompanied by five support staff.

Rebecca Lawrence, co-founder of the charity, told The Royal Gazette: “For the majority of our participants, leisure travel is simply not an option, often due to financial barriers or because travel is typically limited to medical purposes rather than for enjoyment.

“The main part of our campaign was asking for the community to donate a ‘passport’ which is a monetary donation of $100 with the emphasis that we’d need 400 passports to reach our overall goal, and the support from the community has been incredible.

“We are especially grateful to our title sponsor The Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association as well as our other corporate and community sponsors, including the Bermuda Tourism Authority, DaVinci Dental and the Project 100 Property Trust, and of course the many individuals who have donated personally.

“This initiative simply wouldn’t be possible without the support we’ve received.”

Beyond Inclusion’s mission is to “create an inclusive community in Bermuda where individuals with support needs can actively participate in society, access opportunities and lead fulfilling lives”.

Brianna Ball-Roach, cofounder of Beyond Inclusion, said in a promotional video on the charity’s Instagram page: “One of the reasons we thought it was really important to do this trip was because a lot of the participants that we work with either have never had the opportunity to travel before or they rarely get the chance to travel, or the only time that they get the chance to travel is for medical reasons.”

Teams from the Human Rights Commission, the Information Commissioner's Office and Solstice wore orange, the official colour associated with developmental disabilities awareness, and donated funds to support the initiative this month.

Kelly Madeiros, the managing director of Solstice, said: “At Solstice, we believe that mental wellbeing and true belonging go hand in hand. Inclusion is the starting point.

“Ensuring that every person has the opportunity to participate fully, build connections and live a rich and meaningful life is what truly strengthens our community. That is why we felt it was important to support the Passport to Possibilities fundraising initiative that Beyond Inclusion is offering.

“Their mission reflects values that are at core of Solstice — dignity, equity and creating environments where individuals with diverse support needs are not only welcomed, but genuinely empowered.

“We see every day how social connection, community engagement and accessible opportunities can transform mental health outcomes.

“Beyond Inclusion bridges that essential gap by offering experiences and supports that extend far beyond what happens in a clinic setting.

“Solstice was proud to support the Passport to Possibilities initiative because it embodies the belief that everyone deserves moments of joy, exploration and achievement.

“Together, we can help build a Bermuda where inclusion evolves into true belonging and where every individual has the chance to thrive.”

While the $40,000 has been raised, the community can still donate further funds that will help to develop this year’s initiative and support a similar trip next year.

Ms Ball-Roach said: “We are thrilled that our fundraising campaign reached its $40,000 goal. This incredible achievement reflects the generosity and community spirit of our supporters.

“Whilst we celebrate this milestone, donations are still warmly welcomed. Continued contributions will help us expand the initiative and make it possible to launch another trip in 2027, offering a new group of participants the same life-changing opportunity.”

Anyone wishing to donate to Passport to Possibilities can do so by visiting www.beyondinclusionbda.com/donate.