Summary
The aim of the Adventures Service is to allow young people with a range of needs and disabilities the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities they would not be able to access otherwise. To learn new skills, gain confidence and interact with their peers. The service is particularly tailored for older teenagers who are transitioning from children’s to adult social work services. Respite is becoming difficult to access for these young people, some parents are waiting over a year to receive any respite or funding. The adventures service gives parents/carers a break from their caring role.
What Aberlour Options Adventures did
The project delivered 14 day adventures and 5 residential weekends during April 2023 to March 2024, due to demand for the service day adventures exceeded the numbers originally planned. The young people all have a range of complex needs and disabilities and the service has been able to offer beneficiaries valuable respite to allow them to relax and spend time with siblings and families. The young people have participated in a wide range of activities at both day and residential adventures including – Sailing in a rig boat on Kielder Water, all of them having the opportunity to steer and move the sail ropes. Canoeing on Lake Bassenthwaite, Paddle-boarding and ‘Splash and Fun’; canoeing and kayaking; cycling; bush craft; orienteering; disc golf; raft building; rifle shooting; climbing walls; abseiling; axe throwing and swimming. We also participate in more sedate activities – these included a sail on a canal boat; a journey on a steam train; a visit to the theatre and a visit to the pantomime. The residential adventures have visited the Lake District; Northumberland with visits to a new properties at Ford Castle and Netherurd. Whilst the day adventures have visited Kielder Water; North Berwick; Whithaugh; Seagull Trust, Bo’ness Steam Railway; Edinburgh Playhouse and a new venue at Wiston Lodge.
Self-catering weekends have proved very popular with the young people being given the opportunity to gain everyday life skills (cooking; setting the table; using the washing machine; making their beds) and confidence whilst interacting with their peers.
A small staff team has built on their previous knowledge which has a positive impact on the young people and their families as they recognise the staff and are forming a good relationship with them. Staff also supported a young girl who suffered from mental health problems, taking her horse riding regularly. This allowed her parents some valuable respite from a very stressful home life, being able to have a few hours to themselves was very beneficial to them.
On reflection the adventures service is continuing to grow and support more families in times when respite is becoming more difficult to access, especially for older teenagers.
What Aberlour Child Care Trust, Options Adventures has learned
The closure of day centres and lack of respite facilities for young adults and the shortage of carers over the last few years has prompted parents to look for other forms of respite. This has been highlighted with the large number of enquiries to the adventures service and being able to provide this service to support these parents and carers has been very rewarding for all staff.
The coordinator has continued to build on previous partnerships to continue collaborative working with outside agencies and has met with new groups and visited new venues which allows the young people a wider choice of activities. Numbers still have to be considered, especially for those young people who have severe and complex needs. Self-catering weekends have continued to be a great success as these give the young people so many more opportunities to gain life skills, independence and confidence whilst facing some new challenges in their lives.
How Aberlour Child Care Trust, Options Adventures has benefitted from the funding
The funding from Better Breaks has allowed the adventures service the opportunity to build on their reputation being able to offer respite to a larger number of families during more difficult times. We were able to offer a more bespoke service to some of the families in times of crisis by taking young people out in smaller groups or individually, this not only allowed the families valuable respite time but expanded the service to offer different types of adventure days often focusing on the young person’s preferences and abilities.
The funding has also allowed the service to offer ‘taster days’, these give young people who are transitioning from children’s to adult services a ‘free’ day where they can participate in activities, interact with their peers and have fun. Staff continue to gain knowledge about new venues and facilities, new activities and facing new challenges themselves all these help to promote the service we offer.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
Building the adventures service will allow more children and young people access to a number of different experiences they would otherwise not be able to participate in. We will provide a wide range of activities for the children and young people to participate in and enjoy whilst interacting with their peers.
Results
The service delivered 5 two night residential breaks and fourteen day adventures. These were evaluated through conversation with the young people and their parents/carers, using photographs, Talking Mats, Facebook and quotes from parents. It is important the young people and their parents have a voice for planning future adventures.
Case study
A is a seventeen year old boy who has Global Development Delay, Autism and suffers from some anxiety when away from familiar surroundings. He has limited vocabulary but can make himself understood. His parents contacted the Adventures service to ask if he could come along for an adventure. As a weekend was planned which was quite close to home it was agreed he would come along and ‘give it a try’.
Staff met with A before the adventure and although a little apprehensive was looking forward to meeting new people and trying the challenges on offer. A was collected from a mutually agreed point as Mum felt this was better than collecting from home, as this could cause more anxiety. He boarded the bus with great enthusiasm and chose his seat. Staff introduced the other young people and A settled himself for the short journey. He chatted to his peers and staff and on arriving at the venue showed some signs of anxiety but was happy to go with staff and choose his room, afterwards being very helpful to staff and carrying luggage from the bus.
A was very apprehensive when he was listening to the instructor explaining what activities we were going to be participating in over the weekend, especially when raft building was mentioned. Staff and the instructor reassured A that he wouldn’t be in a fast flowing river, only a small stream with the rafts being tethered to the bank for safety and the deepest part would probably come up to his knees. A accepted this and relaxed a little. A was relaxed and settled during the evening spending time with his peers around a campfire, toasting marshmallows.
A was very anxious the following day, asking staff about the raft building, staff reassured him and gave the choice of watching from the bank rather than participating in the activity. This relaxed A slightly, and when it was time to begin the activity A was happy to go along with his peers and help to build the raft, carrying ropes and oars down to the bank. A showed no signs of anxiety when participating in this activity and was very much part of the team, with some great interaction with the instructors and his peers. A was a little apprehensive about getting on the raft, but with reassurance he climbed on and spent around an hour on the water, helping to paddle the raft around. A was so pleased with his efforts he asked staff to take a picture for Mum, which they did. At the end of the activity A was very helpful in dismantling the raft and thanked the instructors for a ‘super’ time. A was very pleased with himself and chatted to staff and his peers about the activity.
On his return home A was so excited to tell Mum what he had been doing, with Mum commenting he was so relaxed and happy after his weekend adventure, it was a joy to see. Staff asked Mum if she had been able to relax, Mum intimated she had a lovely day shopping before meeting friends and family for a meal, something she couldn’t have done if A had been at home. Mum commented on the Facebook page “A has had the best time – Thank you” A has been on another two adventure weekends and has grown in confidence with his peer group and is building his life skills as it is hoped he will be able to go into supported living when he is older.
Outcome
It is hope five new parents/carers will join existing families to enable them to have respite from their caring roles during 2023/24, therefore they will be able to use this time to enjoy a break from caring and spend time with other family members. It will allow parents/carers to “recharge their batteries” and be able to continue to support their child/young person.
Results
Due to the demand for respite for young people transitioning into adult services, the Adventures service has provided respite for parents/carers from eight new families during 2023/24. All the families whose young people have participated in adventures have given very positive feedback and many of them have been included in more than one of the adventures and have asked to be included in future.
Case study
L is a sixteen year old boy with Down’s syndrome, he has good understanding and can make his needs known through speech and conversation. His parent’s, until now, have had no respite from their caring role, other than an occasional night at Grannies. Mum heard about the adventures service from a friend, whose daughter attends adventures, and contacted the co-ordinator about accessing the service. A meeting was arranged to discuss the service with Mum. A very positive outcome that L would come along for a weekend, as Mum felt this would be more beneficial to the family.
When we arrived to pick up L, he was outside waiting for us to arrive and very excited about “going his holidays”. L recognised some of the other young people from school and settled himself into the bus for the journey to the venue. L chatted to his peers and on arriving at the venue happily climbed out the bus and said “Where’s my room?” He chose his room and unpacked his bags before joining the others for a meal. L was happy to participate in all the activities on offer, including feeding the chickens and walking with the alpacas. He was very relaxed and settled throughout the weekend and interacted really well with his peers, staff and instructors.
On returning home he asked Mum if he could go on holiday again with his friends, He has since been on another adventure weekend and is coming along again soon. Mum told staff the family had enjoyed their respite time, going to the local restaurant for a meal, Dad had a game of golf with friends and she had read her book without any interruptions. Mum sent a message to staff saying “Thank you so much, just to sit down and read my book was so beneficial”
Outcome
The children/young people who attend adventures will gain life skills which will help their parents/carers in their caring role. This could be in a range of ways – self-care, confidence, gaining independence, overcoming anxiety with new experiences or changes, meeting new people, gaining basic like skills which will in turn hopefully give the parents/carers confidence in trying new experiences for the family.
Results
The young people who come along on adventures are encouraged and supported to become more independent, overcome anxiety and gain confidence, especially when they are in new surroundings and participating in new and different activities. Basic life skills, including good hygiene and peer interaction are encouraged. We evaluate feedback from young people, parents/carers and build on this to ensure we are continuing to provide the best level of service to meet the needs of the families.
Case study
B is an eighteen year old Autistic girl who suffers from anxiety, she recently left school and is finding it difficult to cope with the transitions happening in her life. Her parents have tried unsuccessfully to employ a carer to allow them to have some respite so Mum contacted the adventures co-ordinator to see if B could come along for an adventure. As B has previously used another Aberlour service, staff knew her needs and were more than happy to take B on a weekend residential.
The planned weekend was to a self-catering lodge which would give B more opportunities to promote her independence whilst helping her overcome her anxieties when not at home. B was very apprehensive to get on the bus, however, with lots of reassurance from staff and Mum she climbed aboard, one of her peers asked if she wanted to sit next to them, which she did. Staff explained to B we were travelling a short distance before stopping at a supermarket to buy the supplies for the weekend, B was given the choice of staying in the bus with staff or helping with the shopping. As B likes to shop she chose the latter and on arrival at the supermarket was more than happy to get off the bus. B pushed the trolley whilst chatting to her peers and staff about what we could buy reminding everyone about heathy options and chose the salad, vegetables and fruit, while also putting crisps and a pizza in the trolley! Staff could visibly see B was beginning to relax being engrossed in the shopping and interacting well with her peers. B helped pack the bags and carry the shopping to the bus.
On arrival at the lodge B was very helpful carrying luggage and shopping bags, she helped unpack the shopping. B became anxious when staff gave her the opportunity of helping to make the meal but emphasised it was her decision. B said she would prefer to wash the dishes, so it was agreed she would help with this at the end of the meal. B did, however, help one of her peers to set the table. B was happy and relaxed during the meal and said she enjoyed her tea. B helped clear the table, staff checked the water temperature before she started to wash the dishes, B loved doing this and wiped all the kitchen surfaces telling everyone about keeping clean, washing hands and germs.
B had a lovely weekend, participating in the activities, gaining confidence and interacting with her peers while gaining valuable basic life skills which can be put into practice at home. B washed the dishes after all the meals, with help from staff and peers and was so happy when praise was given, telling staff “I’m good at this”. On returning home B couldn’t wait to tell Mum she had been washing the dishes and cleaning the germs away. Mum was glad B had enjoyed her weekend and thanked staff for taking her and asked B if she would like to wash the dishes at home, the answer being a huge ‘Yes’. B being away had allowed Mum and Dad to have a very relaxing weekend spending time with other members of the family. Mum quoted “B had a lovely weekend, who knew washing dishes could be so much fun”
Outcome
A larger number of parents/carers will be able to access the adventures service who along with existing families/carers will enjoy respite from their caring role. A day adventure gives parents/carers around 8 hours respite time which will improve their physical and mental health and well-being.
Results
The shortage of staff and financial cuts to services has prompted parents/carers to look for other services for respite. The adventures service has been able to help by offering parents/carers both day and residential respite and has ran 14 day adventures and 5 residential adventures surpassing the expected number due to the higher demand from parents/carers.
Case study
D is an eighteen year old boy who has a Chromosome disorder, Global Development Delay and Autism. He can make some vocalisations to make his needs known. He lives with his Mum and has an older brother who suffers from a Chromosome disorder and anxiety. His brother is now in supported living but comes home every two weeks for the weekend. Mum is on her own with the boys and struggles when they are both at home. D’s older brother used to come along on adventures before he moved into supported living. Mum asked if it would be possible for D to come along on adventures as she has no respite for him now he has turned eighteen and as he had a good allocation for respite while in children’s services is finding it more difficult to cope. Mum has hoped to get a place at a local day centre for D but such is the demand for this he is on a waiting list. Mum suggested a day adventure would be best for D to begin with and it was agreed he would come along on the next day adventure which was a visit to Wiston Lodge for a Musical Walk through the woods and canoeing.
D was picked up for his day out and happily climbed aboard the bus. D enjoyed his journey and on arrival was happy to get off the bus and set off for his walk along the woodland path, D walked well to the first activity which was tapping instruments to make different sounds, he participated in this enjoying the different noises but preferring the bells. D wasn’t keen to leave this activity to proceed to the next one, so it was agreed a member of staff would stay with him as he was so happy and settled. D spent around an hour, tapping all the instruments with staff singing ‘Insy, Winsy Spider’ and Round and Round the garden’ several times.
When the others arrived back D was happy to go with them back to the venue to get ready for canoeing. D loved canoeing and was happy and settled doing an activity he had never participated in previously. On returning home Mum was pleased to hear D has enjoyed his day and told staff she had visited an antiques fayre and met some friends for lunch and was feeling Mum quoted on the Facebook page “Thank you so much – you are absolute angels!” D has been on other days adventures and has enjoyed weekend residential to Kielder and Netherurd.