Summary
We provided 1:1 and group befriending for 75 children and young people with learning disabilities in the Scottish Borders. Our members and volunteers developed their friendships through a variety of activities, and Carers had short breaks knowing their children were enjoying themselves safely.
What Learning Disabilities Befriending Project did
With face-to-face delivery made impossible due to lockdown we developed a distance service involving Zoom, social media, telephone, pen-pals, newsletters and home-delivered activities.
The distance service was put in place rapidly in April after consultation with families. No other learning disabilities activities or respite services were operating so we focused on high frequency of contact which would provide reassurance and maintain a feeling of connection.
After an evaluation in September we greatly increased the scope and frequency of our Zoom groups so that all branches were replicating the fortnightly pre-pandemic schedule (and many of the activities) of the face to face groups. We also added new drop-in and special interest groups so everyone had a session at least once a week. We provided devices and connections where needed and continued our telephone contact, penpal links and hard copy newsletters to ensure no-one got left behind.
We were able to recruit 15 new volunteers from schools and Borders College to replace those who left in summer 2020.
We were only able to register three new members but we provided a service to several existing members not formally in 1:1 links or befriending groups. This meant we reached our target of 75 members supported. Of these, around 65 participated in Zoom meetings by the end of the project and all had a variety of other contact depending on their communication needs.
Carers were closely involved in the distance service, participating in Zoom and social media. Rather than reducing their respite, this provided vital social contact in lockdown and our activities were the only source of activity and distraction for those they cared for. We also had a carer-only group.
After developing risk assessment procedures, 3 1:1 links and 2 face-to-face groups resumed in Sept-Nov 2020 and this is good preparation for the easing currently underway.
We produced a number of reports and films during lockdown, which can be seen on our website.
All Better Breaks priority areas were addressed apart from that dealing with children aged 0-5.
What Interest Link Borders has learned
The lockdown experience forced us to develop rapidly and opened our eyes to the long-term potential of non face-to-face contact. We had always focused purely on face-to-face contact because of the difficulties of children and young people with learning disabilities communicating over the phone. However with all households now having smartphones and being used to social media and Zoom it is possible to have safe, reliable and effective virtual contact.
We also learnt the strength of the community we had built over previous years: friendships and trust between staff, members, parents and volunteers meant everyone involved greatly valued the connections and were determined not to lose them.
We developed a range of distance befriending materials, policies & procedures and infection risk assessment tools.
How Interest Link Borders has benefitted from the funding
The grant meant we could afford specialist tutors and sessional workers and strengthened funding applications to other grant makers who didn’t already know us.
As staff we were forced to develop our skills at a rapid pace, particularly in IT: we are now all experts with Zoom and WhatsApp and with co-ordinating delivery of activity materials with online sessions. We also developed expertise in procuring and deploying tablets and data connections and supporting families in their use.
We have grown in reputation as an organisation: we were the only activities and respite service for members and carers during most of the year and so are now seen as a much more crucial partner by statutory and other third sector services.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
75 children and young people with learning disabilities will have made friendships with each other and volunteers that they see regularly and trust. They will have done a wide range of activities of their choice that were fun and also developed their confidence, self-esteem and social skills.
Results
96% of members said they had developed their friendships.
Contact was more frequent in the distance service than the face-to-face service, so people saw each other more often. It was also their only form of social contact for much of the project.
“Interest link has made my life because it has helped me to make friends.”
“It has helped him make friends at school”
We were able to widen the range of group activities by bringing in tutors from further afield, for example Essex Reptile Encounters. Members also had activities to do at home between meetings.
Favourite lockdown activities included:
“Cooking with Debbie, musical bingo and quizzes with Craig and doing arts and crafts.” “Newsletters; Seeing what everyone else was up to and getting inspiration whilst being stuck at home.”
Crucially, members have developed distance communication skills such as talking on the telephone and using Zoom & Social media they would not have done otherwise.
Case study
J is 14 and lives with her mum, step dad and brothers. She has a learning disability and visual impairment. We only met J the week before lock down after she was referred to us by her mum, Jayne. It was a lovely visit and we all hoped to offer J a place in our children’s group. I met her mum again the day before we were all told to stay at home and I said we would stay in touch with everyone for the duration.
Within weeks we had started our Zoom sessions and I was delighted that J started to join us right away. She was initially very shy but soon got to know us and her confidence has leapt up! She now joins in with all the lively banter and makes suggestions for sessions and has already made new friends with others who will be attending the children’s group with her when we are able restart our physical groups. She attends the social Zooms and loves the bingo and quizzes, as well as now attending the online children’s group. She has met some of our members who have similar interests to her (vampires and Harry Potter!) and she feels much more confident about coming along to meet everyone in person.
J has loved the lockdown programme and says she has loved receiving the craft bags and prizes for bingo wins.
L (step dad) says ‘it’s so good to for J to be with kids her own age and it is great to see her happy in a group’. L also says he enjoys the online sessions and they are a good laugh for him too. L is J’s chef for the cooking sessions and J closely supervises....
J said to me that “the people that work at interest link and the events that they do make me very happy” and she “wants to be with Interest Link forever!!
Outcome
75 children and young people with learning disabilities and 98 carers of children and young people with learning disabilities (75% of the total 130 carers) will feel happier because of our project.
Results
92% of members and 86% of carers said their wellbeing increased or they were happier
“It has made me happier because I can socialise.”
“It has helped me to overcome my fears.”
“My daughter is very happy when visiting interest link and looks forward to her Monday nights. Even in the current crisis interest link is a ray of light.”
“The group makes him feel like a valued person because people listen to him and his opinions, and they talk to him.”
Carers increased wellbeing was often linked to knowing their child was have fun with friends
“I am happy when Hannah can go out with Interest Link.”
“I’m happy when he’s at Interest Link because I know he’s having a good time.”
“Happy A makes happy parents.”
“David’s enjoyed reading the newsletter and we’ve enjoyed sending in his pictures and bits of news.“
“It has been great to keep in touch with Interest Link during lockdown. As said the newsletter and phone calls have been great for Alexander.”
Case study
K has a learning disability and Hyper Mobility, and is 15 years old. She was shielding due to her father being unwell and was not able to take up the offer of attending Hub School, so has been extremely isolated from all of her friends.
K loves to draw, and paint and make models and it was decided that our volunteer C would get to know K and the rest of the family via zoom and they would have some art sessions together.
A weekly slot with C was what she looked forward to and couldn’t wait to receive her zoom email invite every week. A box of crafts purchased by Interest Link with Youth Funding was delivered to K`s doorstep earlier this year and cheered K up and put a smile on her face.
K`s parents were overwhelmed and they found a perfect place for the craft materials to go in her newly decorated bedroom. K`s mum, was especially pleased that K was given a special time slot to speak to C and they chatted and got to know each other over the many weeks throughout Lockdown. C and K have remained close and enjoy each other’s company. They have both drawn, coloured in, and made models which have been shared with her friends at Interest Link on Facebook.
C has been an asset to K`s mental health and wellbeing and she is a much happier person. She also feels very proud of herself and all her creative entries.
Outcome
80 carers of children and young people with learning disabilities (60% of the total 130 carers) will have had more opportunities to see friends, spend time with spouses and other children or do activities because of our project.
Results
76% of carers said they had more time for a life outside of their caring role.
‘It offers valuable time to catch up with various tasks, and get some well-needed R&R’.
“We have a short period to 'breathe'”
“I am able to socialise and I can relax when I know Kelly Anne is with Interest Link.”
“I relax, sit and read a book, watch telly, listen to music. It gives me a nice opportunity to relax, have time for myself.”
During lockdown, quite a bit of this outside contact was with Interest Link:
“Really appreciate the service and the contact we have had throughout lockdown. The zoom groups have been great.”
“The parents group has been a great opportunity to catch up and see the lighter side of lockdown”
“Just to have activities and to keep in touch and hear everyone's news has kept us connected.”
“It has been great to keep in touch with Interest Link during lockdown.”
Case study
MuddyBuddies@Home, a home gardening project for 7 young members with learning disabilities and 3 young volunteers.
C is 11 years old and lives with his mum, step dad and siblings in Selkirk. C has missed the face to face groups during the pandemic and we were very pleased to see him on Zoom.
C and his mum were happy to be involved in the Muddy Buddies scheme and the project has now very much become a family affair! Mum says that not only is every windowsill now home to their thriving seedlings and plants, but that C’s step dad has now built raised beds and planters for them and also attached hanging drainpipes to grow lettuce and salad. C and Mum are very protective of their seedlings and make sure they are well cared for by the entire family. Mum says that as a mum and carer during lockdown, the gardening project has also become quite therapuetic for her personally we love that it’s been an added bonus for her too!
During the Zoom sessions the family have also enjoyed a friendly rivalry with another family and this has made everyone laugh as we look forward to continuing to meet up online throughout spring and into summer and eventually harvesting our crops. Our online sessions have been very educational and we have gained some solid advice and good tips from Sandra Low, our gardening expert who is also a volunteer with us.
C is excited to be able to pick the fruits of their labour and we then hope to be able to use the foods in a Zoom group cooking session with our baking tutor Debbie Lawrie. Courgette cakes with cream cheese frosting and vegetable soup could be in the offing with any luck!
Outcome
98 carers of children and young people with learning disabilities (75% of the total 130 carers) will have more resilient families because of our project.
Results
86% of carers said we had helped them to sustain their caring role. The combination of improvement in the brightness of outlook and engagement of a child who has something to look forward to, together with the reduction in stress on other family relationships has a very positive impact on the sustainability and resilience of family life and the caring role.
“Having a happier child means there is less stress on us.”
“Home confinement has been a burden for her and her parents - continuation of this service is more important now than ever. ”
“The COVID-19 activities have been excellent. Without them we would have had very little routine, which is needed at the moment. ”
“We know we are getting those breaks and the support is invaluable’. ”
Case study
J is 17 and has foetal alcohol syndrome. He is hyperactive, has difficulty with attention, poor memory, and learning disabilities. J has had 1:1 links with peer mentors and joined the Frontrunners group in March 2020. He had two sessions before lockdown and made friendships through games of table football.
During lockdown, J contributed to the fortnightly Front Runners Group Newsletter and enjoyed the jokes and crafts especially. Fortnightly sessions started on Zoom in September and J has taken part in a mix of activities e.g. Celebrating Meeting up with Group Friends, Quiz & Bingo night, Halloween Drama, Making a Leaf Spiral Mobile. J is continuing to contribute to the fortnightly Newsletter, which is being sent to Group members along with activities to engage them between Zoom sessions.
J has said that the group “Made me feel more independent and confident” and that he liked “like being updated on what everyone else is up to through the newsletter.” His favourite activities in the first lockdown were “The crafts and colouring activities I got in my activity packs, I also grew the seeds I got as well.” His suggestion for improving Interest Link was “Have it on once a week instead of fortnightly, I really enjoy being able to get out with people more my age”
Mum says that J is ‘more confident and more self-assured’, he has ‘higher self-esteem’, he ‘felt happy and proud of his achievements’, he ‘has better social and communication skills, e.g. he’s better at interacting with his peers’. Importantly, J ‘respects boundaries better’. When he was at the Group sessions ‘it offered them two hours of valuable time to catch up with various tasks, and get some well-needed R&R’. They felt sustained ‘as they knew they were getting that break every second week and the support was invaluable’. Their wellbeing is improved as they ‘felt more relaxed knowing he was safe, and their stress levels went down’.