Summary
Cafe Holiday Club operates 5-days per week (9 week school holidays): 2-weeks Spring, 6-weeks Summer, 1-week October. We promise to offer disabled children and young people FUN, exciting and challenging activities, supporting and extending development through Free Play, Crafts, Dance, Drama & Sport
What Cafe Holiday Club did
Thanks to Shared Care Better Breaks in 2017 we provided another great Cafe Holiday Club programme - 9 weeks (576 hours of service delivery) of fun and a huge range of exciting and challenging activities. We had an average of 26 children/young people attending our sessions (5 days each week).
Most of our sessions take place in and around our base at the Community Halls and grounds of Cathcart Old Parish Church, but for 2017 we also got out and about to our local parks, outdoor spaces and to our local sports centre to join in a football tournament held for all the children in the South East Forum – we didnae win, but it’s the taking part that counts……. The football tournament was spread across the holiday periods engaging children and young people with all abilities to participate. Bringing the community closer and building long-term partnerships and individual friendships. 176 children and young people from across the community came together in this activity.
We are also delighted that despite the inclement summer weather - we continued to deliver over 50% of our session activities outdoors.
Shared Care Better Breaks funding helps us deliver a 2-pronged project directing services to carers and those they care for - children aged 5 - 16 years (360 hours of service delivery) and young people aged 17 - 20 years (216 hours of service).
The Cafe Holiday Club is about providing lots of FUN for disabled children / young people (Glasgow & surrounds) enabling carers to engage in activities of choice, confident their child is in a positive, safe, fun environment where they are encouraged by creating opportunities to integrate, play, learn in an environment of respect and promotion of positive behaviours.
What The Saturday Cafe Clubs has learned
Since 2015 we have become more engaged in Community events and we continue to build continued relationships and partnerships with our neighbours to ensure we are aware of and where possible included in the planning off other Community based activities. In relation to our budgeting - we are very clear on the budget requirements and we have learned over the years to have an extremely tight control and management of budget. For 2017 we had to adjust our budget plans according to the funding we received. A lesson we have learned in relation to changes in budget is to keep our membership informed to have their support when difficult choices have to be made in relation to budgets. In 2017 we had 18 new families register with our service and 11 of those took up the opportunity to be engaged in the Summer and October Cafe Holiday Clubs this year. We have learned that for some family units with more than one disabled child that meeting cost of Club can be challenging. To this end we have a signpost approach to ensure families are aware of where funding may be sourced and we have the opportunity to provide some short-term support at Club level. We are always looking to find new activities and other forms of funding support to build in some sustainability to Club.
How The Saturday Cafe Clubs has benefitted from the funding
The wider Shared Care Senior Manager's Forum has been a huge benefit. Assisting networking opportunities and points of expertise in challenging situations. The Cafe Holiday Clubs have benefitted from Shared Care funding for a number of years which has helped us continue to improve the service shape and delivery.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
70 children and young people with disabilities from across Glasgow and the wider community will have had improved access to leisure and recreation activities of choice
Results
An average 25 children attended the Café Holiday Club per day. And 12 young people attended the Ozzy's Holiday Youth Club sessions
This consisted of a mix of current and new service users.
Case study
J was a new service user - registering for the General Clubs at our Open Day in May 2017. Following registration we recommend some short trial sessions at Holiday Club before full session attendance. J's carer reported that the Cafe Holiday Club enabled J to keep to a similar routine to school which helped both J and his carer through the school holiday breaks. J's carer reported that whilst J was at Club she could spend time with J's siblings doing activities that could not be done with J present. J's carer reported feeling less stressed over the Holiday period and J was much happier and settled.
Outcome
50 carers of disabled children from across Glasgow and the wider community will have increased wellbeing and reduced stress in relation to the care arrangements for their child/young person over the long school breaks
Results
We delivered a minimum of 9 hours / maximum of 21 hours service to enable carers to participate in activities of choice. We also provided space and opportunity for carers to meet to discuss issues that affect their wellbeing and to promote peer discussion and support to overcome these
Case study
R has attended both the General Club and the Cafe Holiday Club for a number of years. R's carer reports that the service is a valuable resource providing the short break respite that she needs over the long breaks from term time routine. R's carer reports that R is very happy at Club and benefits from a structured routine which in turn benefits the carer and extended family. Attending Club provides R with positive outcomes - less behavioural problems at home alleviating stress and distress at home
Outcome
50 carers of disabled children from across Glasgow and the wider community will have time to access activities of choice free from their role of carer
Results
We will deliver a minimum of 9 hours / maximum of 21 hours service to enable carers to participate in activities of choice. We will also provide information on the leisure and recreation opportunities in the area and facilitate access to these were appropriate
Case study
F has been attending our General Club for many years. He attends the Cafe Holiday Club also. F's carer reports that over the years she has been very satisfied with the service both she and F receives. F's carer chooses to participate in many more activities, but particularly likes to relax by taking her dogs for a walk. F's carer was introduced to a dog walking club attached to the Community Halls we operate from. F reports this new approach to her relaxation of dog walking has helped her socialise more, lessening her stress and giving her an opportunity to recharge her battery.
Outcome
50 carers will have the opportunity to engage in (supported or self-directed) social activities with other carers to exchange challenges and good news stories to develop peer support networks
Results
We have had coffee mornings /afternoon tea and other social sessions over the span of the Cafe holiday Clubs
Our advisory group supported sessions as required by carers on topics of choice
Case study
A new challenge for 2017 was the provision of opportunity for carers to socialise, share challenges and solutions and where possible sign-post / orientate others to support services. Making space for conversation was challenging but this was overcome by reprogramming activities for the first half of both the am and pm sessions. Carers have dipped in and out of sessions as they felt the need or want. A bigger success has been the addition of social evenings for both carer and cared for - carers report these feel less formal (less organised) and they feel more comfortable. We will continue to work on and develop these opportunities in 2018
Outcome
70 children and young people with disabilities from across Glasgow and the wider community will have had improved access to leisure and recreation activities of choice including access to mainstream venues and events
Results
We have engaged circa 70 children and young people in activities and events across the 9 week school breaks where they have integrated with mainstream services and activities and the wider community around the Cafe Holiday Club
We delivered a summer sports spectacular event where we invited all the mainstream Clubs in the South East Forum - approximately 176 children and young people and their play staff came along to 'play with us'. We had an amazing fun filled day
Case study
Children and young people attending the Cafe Holiday Club had little exposure or engagement in community events with mainstream services. The Summer Sports Spectacular integrated 176 children from across the South East of Glasgow and their playwork staff. D's carer reported that the event supported D to engage in sports and activities that he would otherwise not be involved with. He also reported that he felt that not only did D and other children from the Club benefit from the engagement, but he also felt that children from the mainstream services also benefitted from coming along and being involved in and supporting children from the disabled community. D's care said D had a great day and that he also felt that D (in the future) would like to go to more events like this.