Summary
Quarriers Dumfries & Galloway Parent Carers Support Service worked alongside Parent Carers to help them to break down barriers to access meaningful breaks, enabling Parent Carers to take part in family activities, enjoy activities just for them which provided important respite and develop meaningful relationships with peers.
What Dumfries & Galloway Parent Carer Recharge Project (Recharge Project) did
Golden Sands
These sessions were held at Sandhead in Stranraer, offering families the opportunity to spend time outdoors together and to try something different. Families enjoyed being able to spend time together, spending time in the animal farm park. Parent Carers enjoyed being able to recharge and young disabled children enjoyed activities which they are often excluded from.
Meet n Play
These sessions proved to be the most popular of all the activities. A chance for Parent Carers to come together and speak but also to share experiences and enjoy much needed fun time with families. We held a special Christmas session too, something Parent Carers and their children often don’t get to experience.
Pamper Session – Part of a Meet and Play session, we held a pamper session in the local Stranraer college, enabling Parent Carers the chance to relax and focus on their wellbeing. An Afternoon Tea was provided by the College.
FRED - Farmers field Rest home Elderly Donkeys
Another popular activity, and a great chance for Carers to come along and watch their children have a positive experience and take their own time to reflect and refresh in an outdoor setting. We provided transport for families to have the chance to attend these wonderful sessions.
Arts & Crafts
We held these sessions at an Art Studio in Stranraer within the crafts room and at Quarriers office in Dumfries. Whilst we had a lower turnout than anticipated, Parent Carers who attended told us they had an enjoyable and much needed break away from their demanding caring roles, as well as an opportunity for some therapy.
These opportunities have not only offered Parent Carers important respite, but the chance to build a network of peer support and meaningful relationships with other Parent Carers, which is crucial to their wellbeing.
What Quarriers has learned
We have learned that even with planning, things can change at short notice for families we support. We have observed many of these challenges are around managing difficult situations, feeling stressed about attending group activities and often just the anxiety of getting out the door. We realise that some families who have a child or children with behaviour or sensory issues might need more time to familiarise themselves in a new environment or group setting, and we recognise that time should be factored into activities for any such challenges. This will support Parent Carers and their cared-for to feel at ease, as well as minimising disruption.
A WhatsApp group will be trialled for our 2024-2025 Recharge Project, to inform those participating in activities about changes to timings or venues. We are confident this will be a much more efficient way of communicating any delays or challenges, minimising disruption to planned activities.
Families most in need are in rural areas which can cause them to feel isolated. Even with the offer of transport, it can be difficult to reach all who would benefit. We have learned to utilise technology to reduce isolation through virtual meetings.
This grant has not only enabled Parent Carers and their cared-for to enjoy short breaks, but it has also provided invaluable learning for ourselves along the way, which will ultimately improve the important Service we provide.
How Quarriers has benefitted from the funding
This grant enabled us to:
Pilot the Recharge Project with support to Parent Carers and children with disabilities, offering different ways to meet the needs of as many people as possible. Informed learning has enabled us to continue to adapt to further meet the needs of those we support
Develop new links within our community including the local college, farm parks, charities, and other service providers such as Hub 75.
Develop relationships in the community; we have become more visible in the area, strengthening our organisations reputation.
Enabled us to increase the people we support who may not have known about the service previously.
Develop staff to grow many new skills in planning, delivery, professional conversations and changing plans at short notice.
This grant has not only enabled Parent Carers and their cared-for to enjoy short breaks, but it has also offered us some invaluable learning along the way, which ultimately improves the important Service we provide.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
Parent carers of children with disabilities will have had the opportunity to take part in activities providing important respite for carers and fun activities for cared-for children.
Results
Our Recharge Project provided disabled children and young people with opportunities to develop friendships whilst participating in activities they enjoy. They have been able to access mainstream opportunities which they are normally excluded from. They have had opportunities to socialise with others in similar situations, in supportive, family-oriented environments where they can build friendships and connections. Activities have taken place in family-oriented environments.
Case study
Emily has been diagnosed with GDD (Global Development Delay) and is non-verbal. She also has respiratory issues and relies on oxygen at night.
Mum Shona finds attending mainstream activities difficult, so she started coming to our Meet n Play activity with Emily. This provided an opportunity for Shona to meet other parents and get out of the house, whilst at the same time provided an opportunity for Emily to meet and interact with peers.
As a result of attending regularly, Emily started to interact with other children, helping her navigate equipment and up the climb slide. Emily’s self-confidence has increased along with her trust in others.
At our Meet n Play Christmas session, we were entertained by a local children’s entertainer and Emily was happy to interact with some of the puppets, demonstrating development in her social skills.
Outcome
Carers will be able to take a break from their caring role and enjoy doing activities selected by them. Carers will more opportunities to meet with other carers and benefit from peer support.
Results
Parent Carers have had opportunities to enjoy breaks and experiences away from their everyday caring role, helping to ensure they can sustain their often-demanding caring roles. Time away from everyday routines has provided a chance to recharge and reset, providing important respite thus enabling them to continue in their caring roles.
Benefits include developing a network of peer support, building meaningful relationships with other Parent Carers. They have enjoyed experiences which were just for them, and feel valued and respected.
Case study
One Parent Carer we support has had an incredibly difficult time over the last couple of years; her daughter passed away and she had taken full care of her daughter’s son (her grandson) who has multiple support needs. Her own mother then also passed away and she was moving home to meet the needs of her grandson. She has always ensured her the needs of her grandson were met but has also been honest about how difficult this has been. She expressed how the short break she experienced came at just the right time as she was taking on more than she ever thought manageable.
“This support came at the right time for me. Life had been busier and more stressful than I ever thought possible and I was feeling at my limit. I had a back massage from a lovely student, I relaxed so much I felt I was going to sleep. It was such a wonderful feeling. The afternoon tea was prepared by students and overall it was a great session which delivered exactly what was needed and more than was expected. I would attend any other similar sessions and recommend to others. Well done everyone involved.”
The Parent Carer also benefitted from building positive relationships with other Parent Carers. Her grandson has very recently moved into full time supported accommodation, and she is able to meet the expectations she has for herself at this stage of her life. She has a great network of new friends to rely on if needed, now and in the future.
Outcome
Children and young people being cared-for will have fun in new settings and Carers will feel less stressed.
Results
Disabled children and young people have been able to participate in fun experiences and activities which they are often excluded from. Breaking down these barriers ensures their Parent Carers feel less stressed, enjoying time with their families to participate in new and enjoyable activities. Activities which the whole family can participate in provided opportunities to develop peer support relationships with those in similar situations, reducing feelings of isolation often felt by families we support.
Activities have taken place in settings where Parent Carers have been able to develop meaningful connections with others who face the same or similar challenges. They have shared experiences, advice, and solutions with each other. Disabled children and young people have developed connections with those in similar situations, developing friendships along the way. Being able to take part in activities in these settings has promoted improved emotional wellbeing for all involved.
Case study
Debbie is a mum to a son and a daughter. They usually struggle to do anything together and when COVID hit, this exacerbated the issue. Even when restriction lifted, Debbie felt unable to do anything as a family and herself and her children were truly thankful for the opportunity to do something new together.
“We would all like to thank you for taking us to the donkey farm we all had a great time. Before Covid was the last time we've been able to do anything as a family together. We loved seeing the animals and even worked together to try and get a stray carrot that they wanted to feed to one of the pigs. This never ever happens. They both would love to go back and so would I.”