Summary
Team United will offer sport & physical activity camps during school holiday and weekly periods for children and young people with disabilities in 4 locations during– Summer, Autumn and Spring. We will run these activities in the local community where young people live. – Fife, Angus, Midlothian
What GAME ON did
We delivered to all the local authority areas we targeted with this round of funding.
Participants were identified using schools, support groups, social work and through come and try sessions.
Carers get a chance to have a break during our sessions if they chose to do so.
We put on weekend events in addition through the year that encouraged giving carers a break. Some chose to do so and others enjoyed watching their kids play.
The year exceeded expectations for us. On the back of running holiday provision and targeted come and try sessions we increased capacity at weekly sessions and offered all participants a chance to transition and join our weekly session.
What Team United has learned
We have learned that the demand for our services are increasing. Not only in the local authorities listed in this application but from all across Scotland.
After each program we deliver supported by Better Breaks we are inundated with new enquiries.
This is represented in our 2022/23 Better Breaks funding application. We have adjusted our approach moving forward so we can offer more provision over term time as well as during the school holidays.
How Team United has benefitted from the funding
Better Breaks funding has allowed us to demonstrate a need for the program that we deliver.
Better Breaks funding has helped Team United support participation for hundreds of young people with additional support needs across Scotland.
Better Breaks funding has allowed Team United to support carers and families throughout Scotland.
Better Breaks funding has helped Team United reduce family and child isolation.
Better Breaks funding has helped Team United get participants more active and achieve being a part of a team.
Better breaks funding has helped Team United grow our services.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
Carers and young people feel the benefit from their participation in the project and report improvements in their and their child confidence to try new things.
SUCCESS
60% of young people attend regularly and improvements are noticeable in their physical health
Results
Target 1 Individual Goal setting with the young person
Target 2 Young people are transitioned to our competitive league
We reached our target that we wanted in this outcome.
Over 60 percent now regularly attend weekly sessions. Those families now have weekly support from Team United
TARGET 1 - Individual goal setting met for all participants.
TARGET 2 - All players that transitioned to the weekly sessions now participate at league events and have developed skills and coping techniques to cope with winning and losing - supported by Team United.
Case study
Child K is now aged 12, lives in Fife and was in care until the age of 10.
Child K is Autistic and displays some challenging behaviours which are heightened when playing team sports.
Child K attended targeted come and try sessions as well as holiday provision. Team United set manageable and realistic goals for the child that helped him gain achievement that in turn helped achieve participation.
Child K now attends weekly sessions and works well as part of a team. Child K still needs individual goals at times but his team play and understanding of teamwork has improved.
Child K also plays in league games against other teams. Matches that are competitive and very much about being as part of a team.
Child K now has a role at his team to welcome new players when they start at his teams session.
Child K becomes a buddy and helps introduce new players to his team mates.
The carer of Child K has given Team United feedback.
"It has been heartening to see the improvement my son has made. He now has a friend group, can play with his friends after football and has also seen a massive improvement in his confidence.
This has helped outwith football sessions when going out at the weekend, understanding rules and also at his school.
I can also share my experiences with other carers and parents at events Team United put on. Its nice to get a break but also good to chat with others that have had similar challenging experiences. The positive impact Team United sessions have had has been amazing. Not only to (CHILD K) but to our family as a whole.