Short Break Stories

Summer Programme 2022

A story by Jack and Jill Support Group

Our Summer Programme consisted of activities and coach trips for carers and families with children who have disabilities and additional support needs. Our summer trips included the following: Blairdrummond Safari Park, Glasgow Green Freewheel, Troon Beach, Portobello Beach and M&D’s Theme Park.

What Summer Programme 2022 did

Our Jack and Jill Summer Activity Programe is always popular with our families and this year was a great success. Our activities were run every Thursday during the school holidays and were chosen by the parents, carers and children in our group. We visited Blairdrummond Safari Park, Glasgow Green Freewheel, Troon Beach, Portobello Beach and M & D's Theme park.

Family members, carers, children, staff, volunteers and Committee members participated in the activities. Staff and volunteers ensured that carers felt the benefit of having some well deserved time to enjoy a break. Our programme was a great success as always and everyone was so pleased to spend time together after feeling so isolated during Covid restrictions. Luckily the weather was in our favour. The only thing we would perhaps do differently would be to choose beach trips that offered more indoor facilities in case there was a drastic change in the weather and we would be under cover.

What Jack and Jill Support Group has learned

Project planning and budgeting were very important this year as our Treasurer and Project Co-ordinator have left Jack and Jill and we had to ensure that everything was planned within our funding and budget requirements. Committee members worked together on this and we learned a lot from each other within our different roles,to ensure that we can continue to make improvements to ensure the continuing success of our group.

How Jack and Jill Support Group has benefitted from the funding

Better Breaks funding has helped us to strengthen our organisation's reputation. The funding has enabled us to continue with our Summer Programmes which have been running for many years and are firm favourites with everyone. Our members, staff and committee have had to work closely together since our Project Co-ordinator and Treasurer left our group. We have learned a lot by working together on this project.

Project Outcome

To help families feel less isolated and join together after the Covid restrictions we have all been through. To provide a safe, friendly and fun environment. To help families, carers and children make great memories and develop strong connections with each other and become more confident.

Results

Our greatest achievement was getting families together and sharing experiences. We helped carers to enjoy some time outwith their caring role. we helped everyone get back into the real world after spending so much time in isolation and feeling alone after Covid restrictions. Families find that School summer holidays are a very challenging time and our summer activities are the only time that some families are able to join in with others during the school holidays. Some families struggle financially so we offer coaches for travel to our venues. Everyone feels happy to share experiences together and have fun within a safe and friendly environment.

Case study

Child 1 - Autistic child This child was unable to mix in with other children and his carer felt so sad for him and also felt isolated and lonely. The beach trips were a great success as he was in a vast open space and didn't feel restricted. He also loved being on the bus. Everyone from the group understood what he was going through so didn't push him too much until he finally felt really comfortable. On the last trip he asked "can I sit up the back of the bus with the other boys ?" This brought tears to my eyes as it may not seem like much, but for this boy and carer it was an amazing result.