Go Together

Outcome

Children and young people with disabilities in remote and rural areas within Aberdeenshire will have had the opportunity to have fun, make friend and engage in more activities.

Results

Outcome successfully achieved in our three learning sessions and the residential. Learning sessions enabled 7 young people to share lunch together and to engage in bowling, trampoline and crafts with staff, independent from carers and in a group. On the residential, they had extended times for Outdoor and Indoor activities such as adventure parks, Segway’s, Quad Biking, Nature Walks, Ceilidh, Theatre Workshop, Family Motto creation, Mindfulness, Arts & Crafts, Shared Meals. Much of this could be done alongside the cared for and carer of the family and other families. Nature kits to take home, encouraged being outdoors and exploring.
With all costs covered, experienced staff familiar and having trusted relationships with young people and every part of the programme tailored to individual needs the barriers of finance, confidence and access were removed.
The whole sequence of events created for the children and young people with disabilities offered fun, friendships and new experience

Case study

Young carer B is a brother of an autistic sibling. The family must curtail many of their activities due to the needs of their cared for child who has autism. On his initial evaluation B mentioned he can often feel left out but the residential allowed him to spend relaxed times with his autistic brother and also older brother. His older brother fed back that he 'enjoys spending time with my brothers.' Alongside children of his own age, B and his 2 brothers mixed in and tried many different activities. On B’s feedback at the end, he said he has 'learnt to make friends.' B’s brother struck up a good friendship and support network with a younger autistic cared for child on the residential.
Mum fed back: 'We enjoyed the chance to bond with other families and the Quarriers staff. It was nice to take time away and to enjoy as a family. It was good to try things outside of the comfort zone. I appreciate being with other families who are experiencing similar difficulties. The setting is idyllic and calming. It has been so good to spend time in a setting like this with other families who have the same stresses. I did not worry about my son this weekend as I felt all the other parents understood the behaviour and would be more accepting.'

Outcome

Carers will feel less stressed and more confident and the children and young people being cared for will have fun and expand their social circle.

Results

The three learning sessions and the residential provided opportunities for 7 children and 19 carers to mix and share activities. The project was designed to ensure each family’s needs were included and any anxieties or barriers understood and addressed. A “meet and greet” event helped develop a group bond, with many carers finding common ground and beginning to relax in each other’s company ahead of the residential. Shared lunches for the adults and fun activities for the young people provided more opportunities for socialising and a break for carers. Learning sessions also built carers confidence as they developed new tools for supporting those cared for.
On the residential this was taken further with a balance of wellbeing and active leisure on offer. Shared outdoor Adventure, quad biking, segway’s, Ceilidh, nature walks, mindfulness, holistic treatments, yoga, arts and crafts, theatre and drama, sing-a-longs and shared meals were well received, and all participated throughout.

Case study

We asked families to tell us about their challenges and then talk a little about the impact of the Go Together programme in helping them with their anxieties and social networks.
First session feedback for Family A prior to residential: ‘Very stressful having to watch the wee man and divide myself between my two sons with different needs.’
After residential feedback Family A: ‘Surprised at how my son behaved in certain activities- dancing at the ceilidh. I met new people and I’ve accomplished something by taking my son away somewhere.’
First session feedback for Family F: ‘It is quite stressful making sure all the children get time and they need different types of attention. Also other people do not understand why I let them behave that way and they judge.’
After residential feedback from Family F: ‘It is OK to feel overwhelmed sometimes- get tips from others on how to help. It is possible to mix with others when your family finds situations difficult- people are accepting. Good to see how well the boys mixed with others and see how confident they are.’
First session feedback from Family C: ‘Whole family has disturbed sleep due to daughter’s anxiety. Other daughter has melatonin and other wakes at 4am. I do not feel professionals understand. The doctors do not see what I see and she has not been diagnosed.’
After residential feedback from Family C: ‘I got more confidence that we are not alone- problems with school etc. I made new friends who do not judge me and do not get fed up with the cared for. The cared for learnt how to interact with each other and other children and not stayed in own little group.’

5 families completed our base line scoring on levels of stress in their caring role. At the first “Go Together” session the majority, 90%, scored themselves in the medium to high category. By the end of the programme 50%, half of them, had reduced their stress levels to low – a significant reduction of feelings of anxiety after taking part in the programme.

We asked families to tell us about their challenges and then talk a little about the impact of the Go Together programme in helping them with their anxieties and social networks.
First session feedback for Family A prior to residential: ‘Very stressful having to watch the wee man and divide myself between my two sons with different needs.’
After residential feedback Family A: ‘Surprised at how my son behaved in certain activities- dancing at the ceilidh. I met new people and I’ve accomplished something by taking my son away somewhere.’
First session feedback for Family F: ‘It is quite stressful making sure all the children get time and they need different types of attention. Also other people do not understand why I let them behave that way and they judge.’
After residential feedback from Family F: ‘It is OK to feel overwhelmed sometimes- get tips from others on how to help. It is possible to mix with others when your family finds situations difficult- people are accepting. Good to see how well the boys mixed with others and see how confident they are.’
First session feedback from Family C: ‘Whole family has disturbed sleep due to daughter’s anxiety. Other daughter has melatonin and other wakes at 4am. I do not feel professionals understand. The doctors do not see what I see and she has not been diagnosed.’
After residential feedback from Family C: ‘I got more confidence that we are not alone- problems with school etc. I made new friends who do not judge me and do not get fed up with the cared for. The cared for learnt how to interact with each other and other children and not stayed in own little group.’

5 families completed our base line scoring on levels of stress in their caring role. At the first “Go Together” session the majority, 90%, scored themselves in the medium to high category. By the end of the programme 50%, half of them, had reduced their stress levels to low – a significant reduction of feelings of anxiety after taking part in the programme.

General feedback after residential:

• A fantastic opportunity
• I do not feel stressed here. No-one judges when cared for son runs around
• Everyone able to relax
• Relaxed atmosphere and able to chat to one another
• Relaxed and met similar families and created a sigh of relief bod
• Nice to meet other people who go through the same as us. Do not feel alone as the hardest thing was to lose friends when daughter diagnosed
• You were made to feel at ease and it did not matter if kids did not behave
• Relaxed
• The Go Together Project has thought of all the aspects of going on a trip and minimised the stress involved
• Relaxed, accepting group of families made my stress level drop
• Nice because feel other people understand. Do not feel alone and to come together means a lot. I have met a parent who feels the same as me
• Huge boost in confidence
• Going home feeling more energised and able to deal with life better
• Taking time away to enjoy as a family
• Realise that Yoga can be fun
• Our son enjoyed playing with older boys and joined in their games. Lovely to see other children choosing to spend time with him too
• New friends we would of not met otherwise

Outcome

Carers will have benefit from opportunities to take a break from their caring role and enjoy doing activities they chose. Carers will have more opportunities to meet and socialise with other carers and benefit from peer support.

Results

We held three learning sessions before the residential. This allowed the families to get to know each other over informal learning before we undertook the residential. In addition, the children had the chance to meet and play on those sessions. This was done independently of the 19 carers and allowed for respite and time for carers to take a break knowing that the young people were having fun with trusted and familiar staff.
On the residential, as well as family pursuits, there were activities the carers could do by themselves whilst staff supervised the children. Families were consulted in the planning of the programme to ensure activities were appealing and appropriate and to encourage inclusion. These included holistic treatments, mindfulness, yoga and times when their cared for was entertained on separate activities. This allowed time for respite and opportunities to connect with fellow carers and allow peer support to emerge in a relaxed informal manner.

Case study

Parent Carer A is usually very reluctant to try new things and can be socially isolated. The team put in a lot of support to ensure she could come alongside her Mother, two sons and her cared for son. At the initial meet, she had written that she often feels judged and only feels confident in her caring role when in the confines of her own home. On the residential there was a lot of social mixing with all her children and herself. She fed back that she liked: ‘she could speak to other people who do not judge her. She was surprised her son behaved well on many activities. She met many new people and feels she has accomplished something by taking her son away. “I have more confidence that we are not alone. Problems with schools etc. I have made new friends who do not judge my cared for or me and is not fed up with my son. My son learnt how to interact with other children and to not stay in his own little group.’
The whole family mixed in with the wide group and this allowed for new experiences and perceptions to be formed.

Outcome

Carers will have improved knowledge of additional support available to them and how to access it. They will also have the benefit of peer support from other carers in Aberdeenshire.

Results

The learning sessions allowed for new support in the realm of communication and the creation of a communication “passport” that helps those they care for to more easily share their preferences, likes, dislikes, challenges and needs with those around them and in turn better manage new situations and environments. Passports have proven effective at reducing some of the more stressful outcomes experienced by carers of those with additional support needs when they are away from home.
There was lots of opportunity for discussion, group and peer support amongst the 19 carers and staff. There was a good balance of planned activities and free time for the carers to mix and learn from each other, many carers made new friendships and built their own confidence in an environment where they did not feel judged. The group were eager to meet post- residential for a screening (delayed by Covid-19) of the video created from the weekend, highlighting the desire to maintain and strengthen friendships

Case study

Feedback from the families indicate the success of additional support and the experience of peer support:
First session prior to the residential: Family H
'My level of stress can be very high in my caring role. Some people do not understand some of the challenges that you can face.'
After last session;
'Eating meals with other families was very relaxing. The Sunday was lovely for me with the Yoga session in the morning then the Mindfulness in the afternoon and finally the singsong at the end. All of us families are in the same kind of boat as carers and children.'

General feedback at the end of residential:

Family C ‘Staff have made me feel confident to mingle, helped with kids and support me as a parent. I have gained confidence. Made great friends and bonded with staff members. Know that other families are in same position and going forward with new friendships. I feel more relaxed and less stressed. Learned a lot from the break and my confidence has improved from being with other Mum's. I liked the sessions leading to the weekend as it broke the ice and for getting to know other families. Liked the ceilidh as everyone joined in.'

Family A: 'New friends we wouldn't have met otherwise. I would not have survived my caring role without all the support and information that Quarriers has given me over the years."

Family F: 'It is OK to feel overwhelmed sometimes and to get tips on how to cope from others. It is possible to mix with others when your family finds situations difficult. People here are accepting and it is good to see how the boys mixed with others and how confident they were. Felt better for talking to others that are going through the same kinds of things. It is a nice break to meet other people. I liked how helpful and friendly everyone is and how they try to help as much as they can.'

Family G: 'Like that people can find out information for you instead of telling you to speak to someone else. Speak to people who do not judge you.'

Family B: 'We like knowing that the boys have a person they can speak to about any issues they face in their caring role. This weekend has been super for building on those bonds.'