Short Break Stories

Better Breaks Falkirk

A story by The Action Group

We provided monthly youth groups in the Falkirk area for young people with disabilities allowing parents/carers to have a regular break.

We also delivered two activity camps at outdoor education centres in Aviemore and Edinburgh were young people took part in a range of adventurous outdoor activities.

What Better Breaks Falkirk did

Looking at what activities people would like to do, Calendar Park in the afternoon/May, Museum of children. June – Glasgow Science Centre, August to Edinburgh Festival, September Elgin Park, learn some life skill that can enable them to help at home, cooking etc. October The Action Group AGM where lots of various activities were planned, magicians, Lego Technic Engineer Experience, music & dance and of course food, October saw a weekend camp to Bonally scout outdoor education centre. November Summerlee activities afternoon, December was Christmas panto. January Shelby Struthers dance & expression session, February was another weekend camp this time to Lagganlia and March a museum trip to see a robot exhibition.

Unfortunately, our project leader had to go into hospital for a knee operation, this took him out of action for 6 months, we introduced another project leader, we worked with the young people and parent/carer to ensure the transition was as smooth as possible.

We received a number of referrals from social work and through our contacts at Carrongrange School, in addition to this we participate in parent’s nights at school, keep social workers updated at reviews, information handed out at a Falkirk Awaking. We also have good links with Forth Valley College. Our aim continues to work with unpaid carers as well as work within the criteria of the age range. The age range can be difficult, as young people move out the age bracket we have to work with them to explain why they can’t continue to come along.

Better Breaks Falkirk encourages parent carers to take a break from their caring roles and use the free time to enjoy things that they may not get to do whilst looking after a young person that needs additional support. We try to put their mind at rest knowing that their son/ daughter is cared for whilst having fun learning new activities. The project has seen families from most Falkirk areas.

What The Action Group has learned

We have found an effective way to do a consultation with a group of young people with communication difficulties is to have an open discussion with everyone making suggestions verbally or using signing, on one occasion we used talking mats for a young person that was having difficulties making his wishes known. You can then take the most popular suggestions and make cards with the options represented with pictures for the young people to choose from.

We have catering for a very diverse group of young people with support needs we have tried to find activities that can be enjoyed on a sensory level. Somewhere like Dynamic Earth that lets you explore with all your senses! It is easy to develop a fixed idea of what a young person likes or is capable of. Continue to provide different options and challenges. Young people will often surprise you.

One difficulty we had this year was our project coordinator having to go into hospital to have a knee operation, he had built to a good rapport with the young people as well as parent/carers, we recruited someone that was known to them, they still missed JC but have adapted really well.

How The Action Group has benefitted from the funding

The funding allowed us to have some continuity with the young people and their families as they transition in the final years at school and into college. It allows them to have experiences in their lives that may not have been offered to them from elsewhere either within their school, social services or families. It allows the staff (a core group who have stayed with the project over the years) to build and maintain relationships with the young people as they mature, particularly when the young people attend camp, there are opportunities for so much more independence and self determination, choice and development. We listen and involve the young people in the choices of things they want to do, we do this in a person centred way for each individual depending on their support needs. We encouraged newer participants and their families to join the group by engaging with younger groups of pupils at Carrongrange school, we also have taken personal referrals and referral from social work. We have a group of people that volunteer out with the group and are running a disco once a month, this helps give additional breaks.

Project Outcome

We will have provided monthly Saturday Activity Groups for young people who are intellectually challenged and additional support needs. During midterm school breaks we will have provided 2-weekend adventure outdoor activity camps. We will consult and look at the range of activities available.

Results

Many young people we have come across feel socially isolated, being part of this project meant being less isolated, and being part of the group helps them grow in confidence as a result of involvement in the project and putting their ideas and views over in a positive way. It also has seen young people doing things they wouldn’t normally have the confidence to do.

Case study

One young man in particular, spent his weekends doing what his sisters wanted to do, slowly losing his own identity. He joined us on the camp and was reunited with old friends from school and meet new ones. He discovered he enjoyed archery, walking and canoeing and has really started to contribute to group discussions and is regaining his confidence. We are currently discussing another trip away and he has volunteered to fact find and prepare an itinerary. We have seen his confidence grow each group.

Project Outcome

Parents and carers will have had the opportunity to enjoy respite times away from their caring responsibilities on a regular basis. The hope will is they will be able to deal with day to day anxieties a bit easier.

Results

Looking at feedback from families and young people the project gave positive breaks from caring responsibilities, they felt informed and involved and were able to be signposted to other serves if needed. Throughout the project, we continued to gather and report our learning and experiences: through individual feedback and evaluations. We endeavoured to identify key areas of learning, best practice, we also looked at gaps needed to provide activities to best suit individual needs

Case study

As parent of 2 boys with learning disabilities shared with us, I am well aware of the importance of respite and its effect on the wellbeing of both carers and young people. We benefit from the Better Breaks project when our youngest son is able to come to group every month, just to give us a bit of headspace and a bit of me time. That short time is enough for us to have a break and recharge allowing us to think more clearly and then provide more quality care when they get their son back home. Before we heard for Better Breaks we were asking other family members to help, they are supportive but we don’t like to ask too many time, knowing we can pan ahead is invaluable. From my sons’ point of view, when we ask how he enjoys being away he says he enjoys trying new things and being with other young people out with school. Another carer said “One of our girls enjoys getting away for a few hours, her father has just become blind and I am now carer to both of them and make huge adjustments. Being away makes her daughter feel important and it also helps me have some down time and spend quality time with my husband. It just eases the strain."

Project Outcome

Unpaid carers will be able to plan ahead in the knowledge that the person they care for is in safe hands. This will enable them to plan ahead thus reducing problems with their own health and as one person said “the group it stops them reaching breaking point”

Results

We looked at feedback form questionnaires which ask carers about their caring experience, their relationships and activities out with their caring role, the support they receive and the impact on their wellbeing.

Case study

“It sometimes gets overwhelming, as a single parent, before XX went to Better Breaks meeting up with friends was difficult, slowly I drifted away from them, I felt my life was at home caring, I love my son so this wasn’t a problem for me." "As time went by I felt isolated this wasn’t good for me or my son, I was at an event when I seen the Better Breaks information, this was a lifeline. I know have regular meet ups with friends and have a good old laugh.”

Project Outcome

Unpaid carers will be able to plan ahead in the knowledge that the person they care for is in safe hands. This will enable them to plan ahead thus reducing problems with their own health and as one person said “the group it stops them reaching breaking point”

Results

By gather in formation from surveys and questionnaires from carers and the young people that attend we were able to get understanding of what was needed to ensure everyone benefited form the break.

Case study

“ I have to be realistic about what I can do, my son will soon be too old to attend the groups. I spoke with the project leader who put me in touch with a social worker and gave me the confidence to see my own GP regarding my own health needs." "Having the time to have space to plan ahead on how to move forward has been a great health, time goes by so quickly. I didn’t think xx would have friends out with school but he has made links at Better Breaks that with the other parents help we will continue this after we have stopped the group”