Summary
We provided a holiday club for disabled children across the Shetland Islands. The club ran for a week at Easter, 4 weeks at Summer and a week in October. We provided fun packed days and a variety of activities to 90 children over the 3 holiday clubs, providing a break to 70 families.
What ASN Holiday Club did
We have had a full Holiday Club programme for disabled children in Shetland at Easter, Summer and October, offering respite to over 100 carers during those times. We changed the format in the summer holidays to allow more families to make use of the break (we increased to 4 days per week for the 4 weeks) and we utilised rural venues to help those families with any transport or transition barriers too. We received positive feedback from that so we decided to continue that model at October too:
“We are so grateful that you held a holiday club in Aith this summer, I can't understate how much this improved accessibility for us”.
We had lots of new family’s access the holiday clubs during the year and this was down to offering clubs in the more rural areas of Brae and Aith. We worked in partnership with the local authority and other third sector organisations to ensure that our activities complamented each other and offered a wide variety of inclusive activities to the whole family during the weeks and weekends of a long summer of poor weather!
We have continued to work closely with partner organisations to ensure that activities on offer from everyone locally is inclusive and does not clash with the more targeted service of the Holiday Club.
We have been utilising the more specialist venues of the Anderson High School’s Support for Learning base as well as Bells Brae ASN Department. These venues provide a specialist and familiar environment for our children and young people, as well as enabling us to provide childcare and respite for the maximum amount of children we can at any one time.
“I felt the club base was great, a familiar setting”
“When your child finds it difficult to make friends, the social aspect of school holidays is not always there, the holiday club fulfils that”.
What Ability Shetland has learned
We changed the format in the summer holidays to allow more families to make use of the break (we increased to 4 days per week for the 4 weeks) and we utilised rural venues to help those families with any transport or transition barriers too. We received positive feedback from that so we decided to continue that model at October too:
“We are so grateful that you held a holiday club in Aith this summer, I can't understate how much this improved accessibility for us”.
How Ability Shetland has benefitted from the funding
Having the Better Breaks funding shows our partners and other funders that what we are delivering is valued by a national organisation that supports families of disabled children, and this is really powerful in showing that we need to do this for our families in Shetland. Having a large grant like this also means that we can provide a high level of staffing, good quality venues and activities, and provide care and fund to a large number of disabled children and young people.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
Children attending the Holiday Club will all have joined in activities provided and will have shown their enjoyment in their facial expressions, body language, words and actions. Ability Shetland workers, parents and carers will have confirmed that impression.
Results
We have had a full Holiday Club programme for disabled children and young people in Shetland at Easter, Summer and October, offering respite to over 100 carers during those times. We changed the format in the summer holidays to allow more families to make use of the break (we increased to 4 days per week for the 4 weeks) and we utilised rural venues to help those families with any transport or transition barriers too.
Children who attended Holiday Club this past year have enjoyed a variety of activities and trips out which included boat trips, horse-riding, soft play, swimming, bouncy castles, arts and crafts, games, sports, cycling, baking, sensory play and a heap more!
Case study
“My child was excited with the activities that were offered and enjoyed!”
“The variety of things to do is absolutely fantastic”
Outcome
Carers will have had eighteen days in which they’ve been able to undertake activities in addition to their caring role, giving more time to their other children and pursuing personal interests. Along with Shetland Carers there will have been days for siblings too, giving parents a complete break.
Results
We provided 4 days for a week in Easter, 4 weeks in Summer and another week in October which gave families an opportunity for breaks during the time where schools are shut and routines are disrupted. We were able to provided one to one support to all children and young people who required it, and utilised staff and venues that were familiar to them, ensuring parents felt confident at leaving their child and could relax and enjoy the break from caring.
Case study
“As a parent I can rest easy with the knowledge that my child is being looked after by a dedicated team. This means I can take some time out for myself and explore some of the activities I rarely get a chance to. In terms of wellbeing for the both of us, the service is priceless”
Outcome
Carers of disabled children and young people (aged 20 and under) will feel better supported to sustain their caring role.
Results
We had lots of new family’s access the holiday clubs during the year and this was down to offering clubs in the more rural areas of Brae and Aith. We worked in partnership with the local authority and other third sector organisations to ensure that our activities complemented each other and offered a wide variety of inclusive activities to the whole family during the weeks and weekends of a long summer of poor weather!
Case study
“We are so grateful that you held a holiday club in Aith this summer, I can't understate how much this improved accessibility for us”.
“The Ability Shetland holiday club is truly a lifeline service for the children who attend and their parents. It gives our little people the opportunity to socialise with their peer group, make new friends from all over Shetland and experience new activities in a safe and nurturing environment”
Outcome
Carers will have had 18 days of opportunity to have a break from their caring role. During this time they will have taken part in activities that helps them to relax and revive and spend time with friends and other family members.
Results
Families have access to carer support and sibling support groups run by Shetland Carers as we continue to liaise
with this organisation to ensure our activities run parallel to enable carers to attend particular events to support
their mental and physical health and wellbeing. We also partner up with Shetland Recreation Trust to ensure that activities are available for families during the times of holiday club.
The range of activities that we provide for the children and young people are very social and physical and led by
them. We have 1:1 staff / volunteer support for each child so if there is an activity they don't want to take part in
they can choose to do something else. This is the children's holiday club so we ensure it is individualised so they
get the most from it. Knowing their child is listened to and happy ensures that carers are confident to leave them
and fully enjoy their break
Case study
"I can take some time out for myself and explore some of the activities I rarely get a chance to. In terms of wellbeing for the both of us, the service is priceless”