Summary
Providing respite holiday breaks for children suffering from cancer and leukaemia
What Group holidays for children with cancer and leukaemia did
Outcome 1: disabled children and young people, especially those with multiple support needs, will have more opportunities to take part in activities which are fun, stimulating and rewarding
Project outcome: Disabled children and young people, especially those with multiple support needs, will have taken part in our short break to Hoseasons Blackpool Caravan Park.
Results: We sent 12 families to Haven Haggerston Caravan Park, as it was closer and therefore more accessible than Hoeseasons. Here, the children took part in activities such as crazy golf, horse riding, bungee trampolining and swimming at a water park. We then sent 20 families to the Hilton Coylumbridge hotel in Aviemore, where children enjoyed visits to Loch Morlich, the Highland Wildlife Park and Landmark Forest Adventure Park.
Case study: “I really liked the crazy golf at the caravan park, even though I wasn’t very good at it. I also liked when we went to the beach for the day because I’ve not been since before I had to go to hospital all the time. Some of my friends I met at the caravan park came too and our mums and dads even bought us fish and chips.”
What CCLASP has learned
The success of the project reinforced our methodology of ensuring that families most in need of such breaks were served.
How CCLASP has benefitted from the funding
We have benefitted immeasurably from Better Breaks funding by being placed to implement the projects. This is marvellous for the charity's profile and for the children & carers who had such well deserved and happy breaks.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
Project outcome: Disabled children and young people, especially those with multiple support needs, will have taken part in our short break to Hoseasons Blackpool Caravan Park.
Results
Results: We sent 12 families to Haven Haggerston Caravan Park, as it was closer and therefore more accessible than Hoeseasons. Here, the children took part in activities such as crazy golf, horse riding, bungee trampolining and swimming at a water park. We then sent 20 families to the Hilton Coylumbridge hotel in Aviemore, where children enjoyed visits to Loch Morlich, the Highland Wildlife Park and Landmark Forest Adventure Park.
Case study
Case study: “I really liked the crazy golf at the caravan park, even though I wasn’t very good at it. I also liked when we went to the beach for the day because I’ve not been since before I had to go to hospital all the time. Some of my friends I met at the caravan park came too and our mums and dads even bought us fish and chips.”
Outcome
Project outcome: Carers will report improved well-being during and following our trip to Hoseasons Caravan Park.
Results
Results: 91 carers went on short breaks and unanimously agreed that they provided the perfect opportunity to relax with family, make new memories and take their mind off the trauma of caring for a child with cancer.
Case study
Case study: “We were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to go on a CCLASP holiday after the loss of our oldest boy Harry (name changed). At first I was rather anxious for my kids as I wasn’t sure how they would react to again seeing children who were undergoing cancer treatment (such as kids with NG tubes, loss of hair etc.) - would it stir up memories they would rather forget? Would it make them sadder to think of their brother not being here anymore? I also worried about how people would react to us. We were their worst nightmare - our child hadn’t survived the horrible disease! However, I couldn’t have been more wrong and there was certainly no need for any anxieties. The boys had a ball. They had lots of freedom to explore and it was such a safe environment for them. We spent quality time together, away from all the struggles and reminders of how we were adjusting to our ‘new lives’ without Harry. The boys could just be boys. No one knew they were the wee brothers of the boy who had just died. They got to do ‘normal’ things that had been so difficult before. The holiday provided us with exactly what was needed - quality family time and the opportunity to make more memories.”
Outcome
Project outcome: Carers will have had the opportunity to have a break from their caring role.
Results
Results: 91 carers enjoyed having a break from the stress of everyday life. Of the 41 parents and other adult carers, many stated that they enjoyed being able to forget about mundane tasks like cooking, cleaning and taking their sick children to hospital appointments. The majority of families on these breaks had not enjoyed a family holiday since their child’s diagnosis, and a few reported that they had “forgotten” what it felt like to go on holiday and just have fun, as their lives had become so consumed by caring.
Case study
Case study: “We had a brilliant time. The hotel was perfect, very family friendly, loads to do or chill out…Time together with other families in the same boat is therapy for me and my family. Just not having to think about the cooking, cleaning and hospital appointments was great and it gave us the time to enjoy each other and the lovely folk on the same journey. Thank you CCLASP.”
Outcome
Project outcome: Carers will have felt that they were able to relate to and speak with other carers in order to bolster their community of support to sustain their caring role after the trip.
Results
Results: 91 carers enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends on these breaks. 41 parents and other adult carers were able to seek practical and emotional support from others in the same position, while the 50 siblings of the sick children (considered young carers) were able to make friends and enjoy acting like children in a relaxing setting. Many of these families are still in touch with one another.
Case study
Case study: “To get away from it all and forget about what you're going through for a few days is amazing! The whole family gets to enjoy a break and you get to make some amazing memories that don't include hospital appointments. It was lovely to also spend time with other families we had met in the hospital and see how the kids are doing now. To be able to talk about what you have all been through and know that the person you are talking to understands is a massive bonus. CCLASP have given us so much joy, support and amazing memories!”
Outcome
Project outcome: More young people and their families will have had a break to enjoy leisure time with each other.
Results
Results: 12 families went on a break to Haggerston Castle Caravan Park and 20 went on a break to Hilton Coylumbridge in Aviemore – both locations had extensive leisure facilities and nearby attractions, and both liaised with CCLASP to ensure that the additional support needs of these families were accommodated.
Case study
Case study: “Since Hayden got ill, I never thought we’d enjoy a proper family holiday again – at least not for a few years. I heard someone mention going on a CCLASP break to Aviemore last year and she said it was amazing. I was sceptical at first, because I wasn’t sure how well a posh hotel would respond to so many kids, many with cancer or other additional support needs, coming to them all at once. However, the staff at CCLASP reassured me that they were very accommodating, so we decided to take a chance. I’m so glad we did! The hotel and CCLASP obviously have a really good relationship as all the staff were really helpful and gave us tips on things we could do in the local area that would be manageable for Hayden, who gets tired very quickly because of his treatment, and his wee sister. We ended up having a lovely day out at the Highland Wildlife Park, where we could hire a wheelchair for Hayden.”