The Yard - Youth Clubs
A story by The Yard
The Yard provided three youth clubs for disabled teenagers to have fun, be independent and aid them in the transition to adulthood. Through these clubs, we also enabled carers to receive respite once a week for 2.5 hours 48 weeks of the year.
What The Yard - Youth Clubs did
At The Yard, Edinburgh, we delivered three youth clubs for disabled teenagers on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. These clubs run for 48 weeks of the year, for two and a half hours and work with up to 16 disabled teens on building their confidence, transitioning to adulthood and having fun! All of our club members have a disability, with many having multiple complex needs, e.g. brain damage, epilepsy, cortical dysplasia and severe learning and behavioural difficulties.
The clubs also allow carers to have 2.5 hours (sometimes more if their child is able to self travel) of respite where they can relax, spend time with their friends and family and have time to themselves. This respite is essential for carers mental well-being and stress levels and has a very positive effect on family life and the child/carer relationship as they have some positive time apart.
We believe this project has been a success for many reasons, throughout the year we have worked with 53 disabled teens and have incredibly well attended, highly valued clubs. From observations and conversations with carers we know they appreciate the respite time and believe their families are stronger and more resilient due to the opportunity of having a short break.
What The Yard has learned
Our organisation is continuously learning through the delivery of this project. In regards to planning and budgeting we have learnt that planning club activities at least three months ahead is for the best at it ensures that we can staff accordingly e.g. if we have an external activity planned, or if there is a cancellation by a visitor. This helps us to make sure carers know what’s going on, children and young people are well informed, staffing levels are correct and the budgets are up to date and correct.
Over the year we have worked with 53 children and young people, with eight children transitioning out of and into the three clubs. This helped us engage with new families as we have supported their child's entry into a new social setting and club environment. Our play staff and our children's carers have to work together, in partnership, to ensure good transitions and make sure that our carers have peace of mind and can enjoy their respite time.
Finally, we have dealt with the struggles of finding funding for this project by working harder on our earned income and have invested in our social enterprise to ensure that we are able to contribute to our own projects. Our fundraising team also work with a very robust fundraising plan to ensure that they are not reliant on any particular fund and we work hard to make sure we have strong reserves in place, and maintain them at a three months running costs level.
Project Outcome
Up to 45 young people will be accessing our weekly youth clubs, trying out new activities, socialising, building life skills and also making friends. As a result they will be less isolated, happier and have more confidence.
Results
We were successful in allowing 45 young people to access our weekly youth clubs for disabled teens, and over the year actually worked with 53 disabled young people. At the three youth clubs our team of play staff facilitated a varied session schedule that included: new activities both internally and externally, increasing young people’s life skills and encouragement of peer friendships. Due to this both carers and play staff have witnessed our young people become less isolated and have more confidence.
Case study
One of our carers wrote this short piece about her daughter who attends our youth club. (Name has been changed) Carolyn, when she first joined The Yard was very isolated and felt low at times because of this. She had no friends and only went to school part time because of bullying and not being able to cope with school in general. Carolyn also at times put herself in dangerous positions by going off with complete strangers. Going to the yard has helped Carolyn with making friends and more importantly doing things away from the house which was very important. She enjoys The Yard very much because they do a lot of different things and it gives her time to chill out! Since shes joined The Yard shes left school and is currently at college. Although Carolyn still has problems with mingling with other students I feel The Yard has helped her be more confident and to help her make a few friends. I would just like to say a big thank you to all the club staff because i feel before Carolyn came here she was just a shell but now shes a lot more confident, outgoing and most importantly....happy!
Project Outcome
Each week carers will receive a break from their caring responsibilities of 2.5 hours during which they can have time to themselves to relax enjoy time with other siblings reducing some of the pressure they are experiencing.
Results
Our three youth clubs ran successfully last year for 2.5 hours three times a week for 48 weeks of the year. Through evaluation and monitoring we know that this enabled carers to have respite during the week where they can either spend time with their other children, or relax and use their time in their own way.
Case study
Please see two pieces of anecdotal evidence (names have been changed), ‘My husband and I have managed a few ‘date’ nights while she has been at club. (Normally we go out separately – one of us staying home with Alia) This has been incredible for our relationship and has made us far happier.’ Fi, mum to Alia 15yrs ‘We take the opportunity to play sport – usually badminton. For many years we were unable to look after our health and it is very valuable to have this time on a Tuesday. Now we know that we have this time to do something for us and we are less worried about growing old!’ Carers of Kim
Project Outcome
Parents will have a chance each week to take a break and do something different away from their caring responsibilities. As a result they will feel better equipped to cope and stronger as a family unit having a regular break.
Results
Through the respite our carers have been able to take a break away from their caring responsibilities. This has left our carers feeling much better equipped to cope and has created stronger, more resilient family units by making sure the carers have a regular break. Many of our young people have also benefited from learning to self-travel or lift rotas have been created between families, this has increased respite time and has encouraged carers to take up new things due to their extended respite time e.g. one of our parents has joined a book club.
Case study
Please find two examples of this outcome. 'I benefit from this as when my child is at the club I can actually relax and, for a short while I do not need to worry about whether he is okay. I know 100% that he is being well cared for and having fun. This gives me time to recharge my batteries and de-stress, before this i spent the whole time on edge.' Jackie, mum to Sam 17 yrs. 'Ann is a regular attender at the girls club, and this is the only thing she does outside of school without Mum or Dad. So it gives us a space, when we know she is safe and happy, occupied to her benefit and we can relax or give special time to our other kids. Before this everything had to focus directly on Ann, which was not fair on her siblings.' Ruby, mum to Ann 14 yrs
Project Outcome
We will have provided regular support to families providing informal support, signposting them to other services if requested and also providing opportunities such as access to free complementary therapies, advice sessions to help provide ongoing support.
Results
Throughout our sessions our play staff have provided informal support to carers: providing them with signposting to other beneficial services, booking them into complementary therapies, and giving advice. We have facilitated sessions with MindRoom to help carers with very specific issues around disability, and have created a timetable of complementary therapies with our therapist Jen, that enables her to work with carers regularly.
Case study
'With only shadow perception my limited vision makes it makes socialising difficult for both myself and Andrew. Andrew has limited understanding and no concept of danger, coupled with my vision problems and poor mobility I am restricted in where we can go and what we can do without support. I found out about the Yard through a friend who took her son and I was very impressed. I have tried different organisations' play schemes and clubs before - both main stream and additional needs but none of these were suitable for our needs. He was alienated in main stream clubs and other additional needs clubs could not cope with his challenging behaviour and I would be phoned to come and collect him. The staff at the Yard listened to both of our needs and I didn't feel like I was being I was able to trust in the staff which meant I could relax and meet other parents in similar situations. Also the staff are very friendly and reliable. I have made good friendships and found support where I didn't previously have it. I have a very good relationship with Jen, and am able to gain support from her and benefit from the massage she provides at the club. There is not an organisation like this. Since attending the Yard both myself and Andrew have grown in confidence. It has become a second home for me.'
Project Outcome
In addition to offering our own specialist services, we will continue to run our training programme to mainstream and leisure providers to increase their knowledge of issues that will affect our young people and the steps that can be put in place to ensure that all mainstream services are inclusive.
Results
We ran our training program on Thursday mornings at The Yard Edinburgh, for mainstream and leisure providers to ensure that more people who interact with disabled children and young people feel confident and able to work with them. We have also run various bespoke training courses for external services such as the police force. This has meant we are well on our way to making all mainstream services are as inclusive as possible. Last year we held 32 courses and trained 342 people.
Case study
We do not have a case study for this as it was centered around the provision and promotion of disability training for mainstream organisations.
Project Outcome
We will continue to share the work of The Yard and the benefits and impact of providing short breaks to our families each week by completing a range of visits with MSPs, Councillors, Officials and other key partners.
Results
At The Yard we completed a series of visits with external stakeholders and key partners including: Edinburgh Council Officials, MSP’s e.g. Alex Cole Hamilton and councillors e.g. Allison Dickie. During these visits we emphasise the importance of short breaks for disabled children and their carers, we are able to back this up with evidence we gathered through our Social Return on Investment piece.
Case study
We do not have a case study to support this outcome as it was largely about engaging with external stakeholders which we were successful in doing.
Funded Organisation
The YardVisit The Yard's website