Short Break Stories

The Butterfly Club Summer Holiday Club

A story by The Butterfly Club

The Club was a success, partners working together, ensured the service achieved being Purposeful, Meaningful and Safe.

We ran the summer club for 5 weeks. Alternated 2 days one week and 3 days the following week. Each child receiving 12 days over the period. Every child had the opportunity of fulfilling their individual dream day.  The last day was our Family Funday which included an awards ceremony.

Summary of Excursions: (swimming pool, Dean Castle, speedboats, All Abilities Bikes, Horse Riding, softplay, Local Play parks, ferry trip to Millport)
Ball pond, Bouncy Castle, Inflatable obstacle course, Zoo Lab, Storyteller, Drake Music.

Our aim is to provide a fun and exciting experience during the summer holidays for children and young people with severe and complex learning disabilities.

This in turn will provide families, carers and siblings with much needed respite during the long summer holidays, offer children and youngsters the opportunity to socialise with their peers with the intention of reducing social isolation and rejection. Provide each child with an individual ‘Dream Day’
Tip 1:
The formulation of a fundraising sub committee which meets independent of the main committee has been a major success in this last year. Designated people to apply for grants, coordinate gift aid and focus on generate publicity and funds from local businesses and events have all assisted the continued financial success of the club.
Tip 2:
Clear governance for the group, with a strong committed committee, with relevant skills and shared goals
Tip 3:
Seeking support from Local Authority or other a Third Sector organisation that help and support voluntary organisation/committees
A 14yr old boy who is profoundly deaf and severely autistic. His absolute favourite activity was his DREAM DAY - due to his hearing loss, he loves sensory inputs and experiences, especially if they include high adrenaline and speed, both of which was catered to by his 2 support assistants taking him out on a speed-boat during their trip to Castle Semple.

One child had enjoyed horse riding but had had an injury and had not been riding for two years. His parents were anxious. It was arranged with two support staff went with him. The result was a very happy wee boy who now goes riding with his parent once a week!

Another child's DREAM DAY was the opportunity to ‘drive’ the Millport Ferry.
Some of the feedback we got from parents was The Butterfly Club is an invaluable service for the parents that use it. Thank you!

One carers felt that they were in a better frame of mind to look after their child by having that opportunity to have a break from caring for their child and a chance to put herself first for a change.
The club helped my whole family as it allowed us to have a break and gave us time to spend with my other son doing things like going to the cinema which we couldn't do if my child wasn't at the club.

Another parent saying it gave them time to do normal day to day activities like shopping , housework , leisure time which having an autistic child at home can be a struggle.
The service provider we used this year took on most of the staff from the summer club. In our area an activity group has been set up for children with additional support needs. Another organisation has contacted us with questionnaires in relation to them setting up a holiday club too.
We had our main objectives being, purposeful, meaning and safe when organising activities/ outings for the children. If it didn't meet these objectives then we didn't do it.

The club is essential for both parents and children as we have seen from the feedback. It would be a struggle for both parents and children without this service.
When starting the registration process parents/children were given the opportunity with there support worker to come up with a person plan with what activities they like or dislike. What to do in a situation if the don't like the activity that was organised. Ensuring the child get the best possible experience at the club.
We are giving the parents/children the opportunity of an additional service so the children can have a wide range of experiences as well as children interacting with different people and children expanding their social skills.
The opportunities the children get are amazing as we are keeping up the work the school are doing with the children. Giving them the opportunity of different life skills such as shopping, socialising with different peers, pushing boundaries that they are comfortable with and giving them opportunities that they wouldn't normally get.
The introduction of individual dream was a fabulous experience for the children and also great memories for the children, shared with the parents in their memory albums. We started doing it as a group activity but we soon change it to an individual experience ensuring a person centred approach was taken to meet the needs of the individual child.
We sent sent out letters to parents/carers of both schools asking if they were interested in sending their child to the club. The parents/carers we didn't know or were new to the school we contacted them personally about the club and gave them a parents handbook with all the information to take home with them.

Being involved in the school help as we are constantly taking to new parents at various activities organised by the school, parent council meetings, parent support groups and word of mouth.

Outside agencies will also pass information on to new parents.
Most of our children have severe and complex needs. In partnership with the local health department and the head teachers with the schools we mad a plan of each child’s individual needs. Most of our staff came from existing classroom assistants and teachers who have experience in working with children with severe and complex needs.

We arranged a full week of training for all staff which included Epilepsy & rescue medication, administration of medication, child protection, health, safety & risk assessment, pediatric first aid, autism awareness, pro active approaches to challenging behaviour, gastrostomy awareness, health training (delivered by NHS).

Most of children are non-verbal and staff and parents communicated via a daily diary. Some of the children use the picture exchange and were able to communicate with staff and to express themselves, make choices and feel comfortable through knowing what was happening now and next.

Staff had team debriefings each day; these were used to reflect on that day’s event – highlighting its success and potential areas for improvements. They were also used to raise any concerns and to discuss any accidents or incidents.
We have had a really positive experience from the better breaks fund.

The information and workshops are essential and a real asset to us when applying for funding. We thank you so much without Better Breaks our club wouldn't happen.
Parent/carers questionnaires at the end of the club to evaluate the club. We also sent out questionnaires to parents/carers to evaluate the committee and the butterfly club the way it is run and to suggest any improvements. Thing the like or dislike.