We’ve been thinking about the events we’ve run in the past, like our annual residential trips and the festive feast and awards, and we’ve realised something important. While these big group events seemed like a good idea, they don’t work for everyone. Some of you might find large gatherings stressful or overwhelming, and others might have different interests that don’t fit with what we’ve planned. We get that now.

So, we’ve made a big decision: we’re not running the annual residential or festive feast and awards this year. Instead, we’re doing something we think is way better, putting the budgets and focus into you, individually.

Here’s what’s changing: your ECHO activity allowance is going from £15 a month to £60 a month as of July 2026. That’s four times more money for you to spend on things you actually care about and want to do.

Whether you’re into music, sports, gaming, art, fashion, photography, nature, cooking, or literally anything else, this money is yours to use on activities and hobbies. You could use it for music or art lessons, gym membership or sports equipment, art supplies or craft materials, photography gear or editing software, theatre or concert tickets, or joining clubs and groups in your community. Whatever connects with your personality and interests.

The whole point is giving you real choice and control. We want you to be able to pursue what matters to you, not what we think should matter to everyone. This isn’t about everyone doing the same thing anymore, it’s about each of you having the chance to do your own thing or in smaller groups with shared interests.

This change is about respecting that you’re all different people with different interests, and that’s exactly how it should be. We want to support you in ways that actually make sense for your life, your goals, and what makes you happy.

David Pineros Thompson, Inicio Group CEO