Dumbarton District Disabled Children’s Forum organised a weekend break to Aberfoyle for children and young people with disabilities and their families.
Our core purpose is to provide activities to improve our children and families lives and allow them to mix with other children. We organise monthly meetings, playschemes, social activities and we also own a caravan in Ayr.
We provided weekly activity and play sessions for children and young people with complex needs in the Dundee and Angus area, so their parents/carers could have a bit of respite from their caring responsibilities.
Buddy Connexions aimed to train and match 35 volunteer buddies with 35 children and young people living in East Renfrewshire. The scheme aimed to provide flexible support on a 1-2-1 basis at home or in the community. We provided monthly sessions for young people with their buddy at our Connexions hub in East Renfrewshire.
Befriending networks ‘mapping the gaps’ reported only 8% of reported individuals with learning disabilities being supported by volunteers and none in East Renfrewshire
PLUS provided a weekly After School Club 3 nights per week for young people with disabilities and additional support needs so they could socialise with their peers and have fun, while their parents get a break from their caring responsibilities.
We delivered adaptive bike sessions for disabled communities across Scotland promoting all-inclusive cycling to young people with disabilities and additional support needs.
Bike buddies, support staff, trained staff and volunteers took part in, Cycling Scotland’s accredited Group Cycle Ride Leader in preparation for more sustainable services.
We ran a variety of fun outings during the school holidays for families with a child with disabilities providing fun and stimulating activities for the children. Working parent carers and carers under stress had the opportunity to receive respite helping them stay in employment and/or get a break from their caring role.
We provided after school groups on a fortnightly basis for primary aged children and 12 years plus with additional support needs.
During the holiday periods we also operated play schemes for children aged 4-19 years old in three areas of Aberdeenshire who currently did not have services to offer families this support during holiday periods. Each area offered the children different activities due to the venue being used and the facilities available in each venue.
We provided weekly respite care provision in the form of football activity for children and young people with additional support needs from Tayside and Fife. We developed sustainable disability sections within strong Community Football Clubs within the Scottish FA East Region.
Trust Rugby International provided Rugby Tours working with 50 youth players aged 15 – 21 years. We did this by taking groups on day and overnight trips to learn rugby and interact with peers to help develop social skills, to allow individuals to achieve their goals and build confidence.
This also gave parents and carers the opportunity to relax knowing that the person was in a safe environment.
We offered short holiday breaks on our barges for young adults with multiple support needs including wheelchair users.
Just as important as the experience the young people had during their days away was the respite to the parents/carers.