Short Break Stories

Family Group Activity Weekend

A story by Dumbarton District Disabled Childrens Forum

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.

What Family Group Activity Weekend did

The forum provided a long weekend break for parents/carers and disabled children, young people and siblings. Included was accommodation, food, activities, entertainment and therapies.

What Dumbarton District Disabled Childrens Forum has learned

We learned that by allowing the older disabled children time out away from their parent/Carers and siblings was one of the best decisions of the weekend allowing all members of the family time away from each other and if we were to do this again we would also allow the younger ones time out too in their own groups.
Top tips Dumbarton District Disabled Childrens Forum's top tips for an organisation that wants to run a similar project
Tip 1:
Make sure you involve all members in the organization of the weekend and take their wishes into account.
Tip 2:
Always have a backup plan, scope to allow change at last minute.
Tip 3:
Make the experience one that’s full of fun and excitement so all members taking part will be talking about for a long time to come.