Wednesday Family Club
A story by Caring in Craigmillar
The grant enabled us to improve the range of activities we could offer 12 cared for adults with disabilities who attend our Wednesday Family Club.
What Wednesday Family Club did
Over the funding period we organised a range of trips, outings and introduced new activities into the Wednesday Family Club.
As the name suggests the Wednesday Family Club runs on a Wednesday evening for 4 hours each week. Originally set up to support disabled children, as they have grown up we have continued to support the participants. Due to their complex needs this organised club is their only opportunity to take part in social and recreational activities with friends and peers.
Funding made a small weekly contribution to the Club's regular costs. As well as short trips to Portobello Beach for an ice-cream, The Botanics to feed the squirrels the Club participants took part in a number of fun trips. They went to the Festival Theatre to attend a Christmas panto. The following week we then organised a Christmas Dinner and party with a visit from Santa which everyone really enjoyed.
They loved going to Adventure Golf in Livingston to take part in Crazy Golf. They were part of the huge crowd who celebrated the opening of the new Forth Road Bridge they had visited South Queensferry a couple of times previously to see the bridge taking shape. They enjoy a couple of group meals at KFC's and Benny's.
In terms of new activities we brought in a catalogue from Hobby Craft and they group chose lots of jewellery making and art kits which they have really enjoyed using.
The noisiest change was when the group decided they wanted a karaoke machine, it has proved really popular especially at their Christmas party.
The highlight of the year was when Cool Creatures who arrange animal handing sessions visited the Wednesday Family Club, the star of the show was a small Meercat!
When we asked the group what new equipment we should buy fore the Club neither B or R came up with any suggestions. When we asked them whether they would like a karaoke machine their faces lit up, we had borrowed a karaoke machine a few months earlier from another local group and it was a real success.
When the karaoke machine arrived we waiting until R & B arrived at the Club and encouraged them to open the box. Since then as soon as they arrive at the Club they ask for the karaoke machine and start singing.
As well as simply singing songs they know, they have learnt new songs. We are encouraging them to read lyrics which has given them a real boost in confidence as they are learning how to use the new music machine