Break out

Outcome

Disabled children and their families will have taken part in multiple social opportunities throughout the region during the 12 months. These activities are organised throughout the school holidays.

Results

We organised over 40 activities throughout the year with a broad spectrum of opportunities, which were accessible for all our young people with disabilities. Activities included Sports and Leisure activities including sailing, kayaking, gymnastics, ball sports and trampolining. Nature activities with visits to the local forestry commission areas, the beach and local parks. New experiences including fishing and horse riding and visiting popular local attractions like Cocobean Chocolate Factory and Cream o Galloway adventure park. These activities were organised in several areas across the region including Moffat, Sanquhar, Dumfries, Castle Douglas and Stranraer. We also had activities outwith the region including tenpin bowling and museum visit.

Case study

Many of the disabled children and young people we work with are socially isolated at school and within their local community. They lack the opportunity to make friends and maintain friendships. During our Family Days last summer one of our parents expressed worries about their child M, struggling to engage with other children on the day. She and her partner felt their M was lonely and had no friends. At school M is frequently isolated in the playground and finds playtime very stressful. His concern about venturing from his parents was clearly evidence by M sitting with his parents and being unable to explore the environment or reach out to other children. Staff took the time to engage with M and introduced him to two brothers with LD and slightly older than M whom the staff member knew would be supportive and caring towards M. This helped M to feel it was safe to move away from his parents to be able to enjoy playing and exploring with the brothers. M’s parents now find it easier to encourage him out of bed and out of the house during school holidays when PIN activities are on because he knows he will feel safe, less stressed and have fun with new friends. The children now look out for each other at PIN events.

Outcome

Our families will be in contact of the network of families locally to gain support and advice with the adults and children built friendships and experienced new social activities.

Results

We have provided a comprehensive range of activities for all our members. We give priority booking to all new families. We spend time with new families to help them engage and introduce them to members to make friendships. We also invite them to attend other events to build on those friendships and experiences.

Case study

In Newton Stewart we had a volunteer who supported the coordinator throughout the holidays, she played a very valuable role which enabled a family to stay and take part in a session. This was the first time this family had attended any of our holiday activities. Mum was very anxious about coming along as she had always felt judged in the past. She has three children, two of which are on the Autistic spectrum one who is 13, very verbal, and one 7 who is on the severe end of the spectrum with little verbal communication. The volunteer sat in a quiet part of the room trying to engage and chat with the 13 year old who felt she was too old to be at the session, however once the volunteer realized she was obsessed with Scotland and everything Scottish the volunteer used that information to engage allowing mum to play with her 7 year old and chat to other parents. By the end of the session, mum was much more relaxed chatting to parents. When they were all leaving the 13 year old asked if it was okay if she could come back to another activity.
This allowed the parent to become more confidant with the support PIN could offer. The parent then came along to a Child’s Planning training session which was organized by the coordinator in her area so in turn gave the parent the confidence to voice her opinion at their next Child’s Plan Meeting and positive changes were made.

Outcome

Our members will have less isolation and a support network they can access for life.

Results

We have established a group within the Stewartry that comes together of parents and carers some of whom have been members for years, but our very welcoming to new parents and carers. This group comes together every 4 weeks in a local church hall , some of the parents that attend also have pre-school children that come along . This group of 12 parents / carers that attend regular and this is a strong network of support.

Case study

Mrs X moved to the Stewartry area from the highlands in summer 2018. Her daughter who is 15 with severe and complex disabilities struggled to integrate to her new school. When Mrs X contacted PIN in September 2018 she was on a very low ebb and daughter was practically housebound and was not attending school or leaving the house at all. From this meeting with PIN mum was introduced to a regular support group and her daughter was encouraged to come along and try a session we had organised at the Cocobean Chocolate factory where she met a friend of the same age, who went to the same school and they have now went on to become close friends with each mum taking turns once a month to host a sleep over. Mrs X now has a network of friends within the small rural area. Her daughter has 1 friend, is still not at school but it is a working progress.

Outcome

Carers will feel better supported to sustain their caring role.

Results

In February 2019 we ran an 'Unpicking behaviours' training workshop for parents and carers in partnership with Occupational Therepy, Speech and Language and Cahms. The training was aimed at identifying the behaviours children who had additional needs show and how to deal with them effectively. It was a hugely successfull workshop with parents and carers outwith PIN attending and subsequently becoming members of PIN and accessing our support services. The feedback indicated that parents found the training useful and the strategies that they learnt would be valuable to them in thier caring role. We organise training events for parents and carers throughout the year in order to support them in thier caring role based on the reoccurring issues members tell us they are facing. By giving parents and carers the strategies to deal with behaviours it enables them to be more confident when they attend our activities and are able to take steps to improve their over all well being.

Case study

In Newton Stewart we had a volunteer who supported the coordinator throughout the holidays, she played a very valuable role which enabled a family to stay and take part in a session. This was the first time this family had attended any of our holiday activities. Mum was very anxious about coming along as she had always felt judged in the past. She has three children, two of which are on the Autistic spectrum one who is 13, very verbal, and one 7 who is on the severe end of the spectrum with little verbal communication. The volunteer sat in a quiet part of the room trying to engage and chat with the 13 year old who felt she was too old to be at the session, however once the volunteer realized she was obsessed with Scotland and everything Scottish the volunteer used that information to engage allowing mum to play with her 7 year old and chat to other parents. By the end of the session, mum was much more relaxed chatting to parents. When they were all leaving the 13 year old asked if it was okay if she could come back to another activity.
This allowed the parent to become more confidant with the support PIN could offer. The parent then came along to a Child’s Planning training session which was organized by the coordinator in her area so in turn gave the parent the confidence to voice her opinion at their next Child’s Plan Meeting and positive changes were made.

Outcome

We will establish positive relationships with local organisations and business to ensure and cement their knowledge and understanding for our families to have better access. All our activities will be fully booked with an array of opportunities and choices.

Results

We arranged a variety of activities in the Summer with local organisations . One being a local Gymnastics Club that some of young people attended . One of our young people took to the activity and is now attending the Club twice a week and has been offered a place and excepted in a two piece competitve club and is really shining in a main stream organistaion. The gymnastics club has since attended training to help meet the needs of children with disabilities and are looking at offering more classes to help engage other children to be involved in gymnastics.

Case study

Child 1 is attending a local Gymnastics Club and is in a group of 24 children both girls and boys. Child 1 has developed well in a mainstream activity and is making friendships with the other gymnasts and is working alongside them as a team and individiual . Child 1 has pushed herself out of her own confort zone to help at fundraising activities for the Club over the Christmas period alongside attending Movie nights and other social group activities within the Club. Child 1 has recently competed at an in house competition and won a bronze medal at the competition.