Residential Sports Camp
A story by Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club
We provided a three day Residential Disability Sports Camp for families with children and young people with disability from West & East Dunbartonshire area.
What Residential Sports Camp did
Our Residential Sports Camp project was delivered in full on Friday 28th – Monday 31st July 2018 at Scottish National Sport Training Centre, Largs. The three night camp was a great success for everyone involved. The funding from Shared Care Scotland abled the club to deliver two individual programmes, one for parents/carers and one for the children.
The activities that were delivered, carer’s programme provided 20 hours of activity with the following activities, massage, parents v children football match, nature walk, 2 spin classes, orienteering, time for conversations with other parents experiencing similar issues, quiz show, family dance session & family walk.
Children’s programme provided 20.5 hours of activity with following activities, football tournament, Olympic games, arts and crafts, dance, family dance, talent show, parents v children football game, family walk, Boccia tournament, quiz & free time to play with friends.
The camp was advertised by organising two public meetings and speaking to club members during club’s weekly sports sessions. To organise the camp the club needed to recruit extra staff from West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust and Independence to run safe and enjoyable sports, dance and arts and craft sessions.
I felt like I had been away for ages when I got home today, I haven't had so much free time for me since the kids came along (not that I'm complaining). I enjoyed my 1st ever spin class and probably my 1st exercise in around 20 years apart from walking lol. I also really enjoyed joining in with the dance session and the orienteering as well as my massage.
It has spurred me on to try some other classes at the new leisure centre and make time for me because I can really feel the benefits for me and the kids. It was the 1st time all 3 of our children have been able to participate in the same activities and I felt relaxed that Jack was safe and being well looked after. I really cannot thank you both enough for all of your hard work, planning and effort putting the weekend together. I hope you both have a few days to relax now.
Kyle and the full family have benefited through the camp introducing us all to more sports. We now go swimming twice a week using the Meadow Leisure Centre and the new Clydebank Leisure Centre.
Harris, Kyle’s brother, has taken up basketball as a directed result of his involvement of the camp. I’m delighted with the differences the club and the Sports Camp have made to our life. Thank you.
The Sports Camp was obviously designed to allow the children the opportunity to take part in activities that they might not have tried before in a safe, nurturing and encouraging environment. My son would never have entertained taking part in a dance workshop before that weekend but not only did he take part but he said he enjoyed it.
He enjoyed the group sports but found being part of a team during the morning treasure hunt also really exciting and his competitive edge came out as he wanted to win. Even during the “down times” there was always quizzes and games that he could get involved in.
He was never bored and never asked for a phone or Ipad once during the weekend. It really was a well thought out and well run weekend. A credit to the Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club that he is already asking about next year. For him it was definitely stimulating and rewarding. For the whole family to see him enjoy himself was just FUN.