Short Break Stories

Center Parcs Healthy Activities Break

A story by West Glasgow Kinship Group

We provided a healthy activities break to Center Parcs in the Lake District for 20 Kinship Carers and the 30 children they care for.

The break offers many opportunities to do activities such as swimming, cycling etc as well as enjoy the calming environment of the forest. The carers feel they are not all alone and feel better supported in their caring role.

What Center Parcs Healthy Activities Break did

Kinship Carers participated in a variety of healthy activities including swimming and cycling everyday. They provided each other with guidance and support.
Many of the Kinship Carers have managed to continue some of these activities when back at home which helps with reducing stress etc with both the carers and the children increased their self esteem through taking part in activities.

The short break helped Kinship Carer AB improve her physical, mental and emotional well-being. Her grand child has mental health problems and the break really allowed him to come out of his shell.

He mixed well with the other children. He cycled and got involved but was safe whilst mixing with the other children. Seeing her grandchild doing well allowed AB to relax and get a break. She felt happy to see her grandson do so well.

Kinship Carer CD spent quality time with her grand-daughter. Normally due to the child's difficult back ground (with many issues) their relationship can be volatile. The gran has to play the role of the mother.

This break allowed them to have a more usual gran and gran-daughter relationship. This relaxing break allowed them to be more comfortable in each other's company whilst spending whole days out cycling together. It strengthened their bond and provided happy memories for both of them.
Kinship Carer EF cares for 3 children and benefited from the relaxing environment and watching the young children playing on their bikes. EF was able to relax and know that the children were safe and happy.

EF was able to get support from the other Kinship Carers and this was a positive experience which helped her continue her caring role when she got home again.

What West Glasgow Kinship Group has learned

A well planned break makes it more of a success. Important to be organised and involve carers and children in planning the break. It helps if everyone knows what they are doing day to day and its well thought out but not too rigid.

The break brings everyone together and helps them get to know each other better, this impacts in a positive way at the meetings allowing people to feel more comfortable with each other.

Carers build confidence and trust on the break which encourages them to raise issue and ask for support at the meetings.
Top tips West Glasgow Kinship Group's top tips for an organisation that wants to run a similar project
Tip 1:
Planning the break well and involving everyone makes for a better and more successful holiday.
Tip 2:
Make everyone aware of the schedule etc and keep carers and children informed.
Tip 3:
Be prepared to relax and enjoy your break!