Short Break Stories

Dundee Activity Club

A story by Cornerstone

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.

What Dundee Activity Club did

The Dundee Activity Club provided three club sessions per week. Two of the sessions were for younger children and the third was specifically for youths aged 13 - 18 years. The club was held in a variety of locations including a church hall, a community centre and community leisure facilities.

We’ve have a stable rota of qualified and experienced staff. In the past year we augmented staffing with an additional two volunteers who enhanced our capacity to support children with complex support needs. The club well-established in the Dundee area and enquiries come by word-of mouth.

The youths aged 13-18 decided they wanted to go swimming at the new leisure pool in Dundee. They selected a date and time when all of them could participate. They asked for additional staff support as some of them are a bit apprehensive in the water. They met up in the lobby of the on the day and went on to have a fabulous time.

A Kinship Carer was struggling to adjust to meet the needs of a child with medical needs and behavioural issues. She was able to find a better balance with the few hours of respite the club provided for the child.
One Saturday morning we hired The Fun Factory where the children we able to play and explore. They played hide and seek in the climbing apparatus, engaged in the sensory activities, and put on a show for the staff with puppets. The ball pits were especially fun for the children who use wheelchairs.

What Cornerstone has learned

At the start of the funding period Cornerstone was concerned that the service would need to shut down for a year as we because the premises we had been using was sold and we had been unable to secure a new location. We contacted Alison Stevenson to discuss the issues and we were able to come to an agreement as to how club would be delivered and special permission to use some funding for rent. The organisation was able to maintain the support for the children and their families/carers.

Using various premises for club resulted in more parents/families needing transport arranged for their children. Their needs continually evolved over the course of the year depending on where club was held and there was accessible public transport. The club prioritises child with complex needs as it is their carers who cannot access mainstream childcare options. We learned that we must enhance staffing ratios to meet the needs of the children and enlist the help of volunteers so that those carers can get the break they desperately need.
Top tips Cornerstone's top tips for an organisation that wants to run a similar project
Tip 1:
Don’t be afraid to talk with Shared Care Scotland when you encounter an obstacle.
Tip 2:
Find creative ways to support carers so not to add to their workloads and time constraints.
Tip 3:
Having a suitable and consistent premise is fundamental to providing safe and enjoyable experiences for the children.

"As a family we were at breaking point...this break brought us all closer together and enabled us to have fun as a family and enjoy different surroundings. I can't thank you enough...for making this happen for us."

Service User

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