Summary
BANG delivered a one day a week summer camp for ASN Families , young carers and dedicated Youth Camp based at Tweedbank Community Centre . We also went on Quiet Residential at Netherurd House in August with 15 ASN Young people aged 16-19 years of age. We delivered a one day a week ASN Summer Camp in Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders for Families parent carers, young carers and ASN young people 0-16, including a dedicated ASN Youth Camp for youths aged 11-15 years of age. Providing inclusive access to sports, creative arts, peer support. Delivered a Sensory quiet residential for ASN youth aged 16-19 years of age.
What Respite, Residential, Relax - 3 R'S for ASN Families and Youths did
BANG delivered a one day a week summer camp for ASN Families , young carers and dedicated Youth Camp which was based at Tweedbank Community Centre . We also went on Quiet Residential at Netherurd House in August with 15 ASN Young people aged 16-19 years of age.
We opened out event to any ASN family in Scottish Borders and created booking via Eventbrite, the event was 4 hours with 2 sessions on sporting activities and creative arts, we provided sensory family play area, quiet area and worked with stakeholders to offer parent carers zone - peer support, information sessions- meet and greet sessions with Childsmile, NHS health improvement team, Children and families Social work. In addition we provided parent carers with Free Reiki and massage, during the summer camp. Parent could access peer support, access to information and services in a dedicated parent zone and young carers enjoyed sports and creative art, and participated fully in the camp facilities. The last week of ASN Summer/Youth Camp we held a family fun day with bouncy castles, buffets and fun aimed to end the summer with family festival.
The ASN young people were identified form our dedicated ASN Youth project who went on 3 days residential trip to Netherurd and we organised and planned activities for them including silent disco, Cool creature exploring exotic animals and archery, fire building. Parent carers enjoyed 3 day respite during this time, for one parent this was the first time she had overnight respite for over 10 years and she enjoyed a trip to visit her sister in England. For some of our young people who could not manage overnight stay due to anxiety, stress and the need for home routine we invited them along for a day visit with their parents, we created activities for the day visit and included parents within this, inviting them to join in , have fun with their young person and ended the day with a cooked ' family' tea.
The Camp and residential was a huge success and for ASN Youths aged 16-19 years of age they have asked for a residential that focuses them on independent living , making beds, budgets and cooking . We will factor this into our longer term outcomes. For parent carers they have highlighted their continued involved with sports and creative arts and are accessing more community events, with better connections to their community support.
What Borders Additional Needs Group has learned
The charity was challenged by rising core costs to deliver the project. We are working closely with local authority to support this imitative and to drive some investment into the delivery of Sumer Camps.
We have developed more partnerships with local stakeholders and statutory services utilise the camp as a way for them to offer support in fun inclusive manner - oral heath, Children social work, social security Scotland etc
The challenges we identified were on core costs and purchasing equipment to ensure we are inclusive and catering to a wide range of needs- we have drafted up funding applications to support with equipment for sensory , physical needs.
How Borders Additional Needs Group has benefitted from the funding
The project has been catalyst for promoting Charity and we have benefitted from requests and specifically Equality and inclusion. We are supporting other charities and sports, recreation providers with knowledge and capacity building to deliver more inclusive sessions outwith summer camp.
We have expanded our services with development of Parent Led monthly support for under 11s and had steep rise in membership.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
Summer camp provided Young carers, ASN young people and ASN Children to enjoy weekly camp that offered them a range of activities including archery, cycling, football, tennis the instructors work with BANG staff to create inclusive activities suitable to ASN, wheelchair bound and children and young people with ASN/Autism. The young people had dedicated youth area where they could relax and meet friends, connect and chill with youth staff away from parents. In addition to sports there was creative arts workshops and tents to relax, this ensures the young people can meet like minded youths with same interests. The young people in older group 16-19 enjoyed 2 night residential trip that enabled their parents to access respite and for home schooled, part time timetabled young people this was an opportunity to connect with peers in different environments outside the home.
Results
The high attendance to the summer camps is an indicator for success and the statistics indicated that young people felt happier and included in their community, healthier and more physically active. The summer camp has led to more engagement with external providers to create more fun, sporting activities out with summer camps. ASN Parent carers have joined BANG and been supported by ASN Family Liaison worker who has supports them every week, this has led to the creation of a NEW under 11 monthly support which is being run by ASN Parent Carers, supported by the charity to ensure children and young people have access to more social activities. This user led initiative was born out of the Summer camps and peer support.
Case study
Parent one had 3 children and had no access to activities and limited family support during summer holidays. Parent one was a single parent and had 1 ASN young person and 2 young carers. We offered support during sign in , reassurance and created visual timetable for ease of understanding and introduced a welcome support in 2023.
The parent attended every week and young carers made some new friends and were accessing sports, creative tents with the support of camp volunteers. Parent one had been socially isolated and joined the parent section , they met other parents and accessed free massage and reiki sessions, had 1-1 with childsmile NHS oral health team and received new sensory support toothbrushes. had 1-1 chat with children and families social work to seek advise on respite and applying for this. The informal access and 1-1 engagement with peers and professional led to parent one joining weekly ASN Parental support out with the summer camps, parent one is know leading on new parent carer monthly groups, volunteering and empowering others within the group.
Outcome
The summer camp provides an opportunity for Parent carers and young people to access more opportunities outwith the home, but supported by their peers. We ran a dedicated ASN Parent Zone at this years camp to allow parents to have their own space , access to FREE reiki and massage to ensure they had quite space to relax and access peer support, service support. The summer camp is an opportunity to remove the burden and anxiety of caring for child/ children by providing a supportive caring environment , that is inclusive, this helps support the parent feel less' social ' pressure' and be more relaxed about their children sensory, physical differences.
The residential trip allows parents to have 2 nights respite, and for some parents this is the first time their child has left home.
Results
The project enabled parents have more opportunities for their children , siblings( young carers) and access informal support in a whole family approach summer camp. The camp had a dedicated Parent section this year, managed by staff and volunteers. The project offered them access to free therapy and peer support during school holidays, parents took home resources form professional's attending and were given information on how to access and signpost to support, positively impacting on their access to local and national support. It also lead to a rise in membership to weekly ASN cuppa and chat in Galashiels an additional 7 parents accessed weekly support - this led to a funding bid being submitted to D@G Communities mental health and welfare fund to extend the weekly ASN Parent Groups to other five areas in Scottish Borders.
The residential trip enabled parents to access 2 nights and 3 days respite, and offered parents opportunity to relax, book a holidays, time away and socialise with family and friends during summer.
Case study
One parent has been caring for her mother who had dementia and her daughter who was recently diagnosed with Autism, ADHD and Diabetes. The strain on caring for both her mother and her daughter who had recently moved into new flat was affecting her emotional health and the emotional health of her daughter, who was struggling to manage the transition into her new home.
Daughter attended the residential which enabled her mother to reduce her caring hours and we focused on working with young person to explore independent living skills, cooking on a budget and cleaning and money management.
The longer term impact has reduced mother stress and ensuring her daughter had access to more community support , therefore reducing carer stress on her mother.
Outcome
Young carers and Parent carers will have access to more social and peer support, engaging with peers and families to offer young carers more information and social interactions. The Summer camp offers an opportunity for young carers to enjoy summer activities with their family, ensuring whole family support in a fun and inclusive way. Young carers can access peer support with other young carers and form relationships and access social fun activities including sports, creative arts.
The creation of a dedicated Parent space offering free massage and Reiki supported parents to from their own group and work on creating local solutions
Results
The project supported over 70 young carers wo attended the summer camps , accessing sports and creative projects. The impact of the summer camps led to referals accessing youth projects and formation of a new ASN Parent group on Whats App, the families have maintained friendships outwith the summer camp and now meet once a month , offering young carers peer support. The creation of Whats App group has led to the formation of ASN Parent led Monthly actvity group called ' Wee Branches' , offering monthly options outwith camps.
Case study
Parent B attended Summer Camps and adopted a key caring role supporting peers, she led on the creation of a Whats App group and then joined BANG ASN Parent Cuppa and Chats, she become empowered and encouraged to work with the charity. Through her direct engagement with her peers / Parent carers she sought to overcome some of the challenges of caring for her son and approached the charity to set up a dedicated Monthly Activity Group ' Wee Branches'. She enrolled as a BANG volunteer and the charity has supported her to set up Monthly Activity groups. Parent B transformation and confidence has developed and with the support from the charity and her peers, she is highly motivated and ' sense of purpose' a real positive impact on her self confidence which will be reflected in her role as parent carer.