Summary
Quarries delivered a Family Summer Retreat to 7 young people with disabilities and 17 carers in Aberdeenshire. A “get-to-know-you event” preceded a 3-night residential, in an idyllic woodland setting, where families were able to choose from active, relaxing and therapeutic activities to enjoy a summer-break at their own pace.
What Quarriers Family Summer Retreat did
In line with our original application and as reported in our mid-grant update, Quarriers Aberdeenshire Carers Support Service successfully delivered our Family Gathering at Thainstone House Hotel in Inverurie on 12th July. This event enabled families to bond ahead of their time away and to get to know each other over a relaxed lunch event, in a beautiful setting that ensured families felt valued. By sharing a power point and video detailing the venue, facilities, activity options, format and timings for the residential and introducing external suppliers in advance, families felt prepared, reassured and excited about the trip. Enabling families to meet each other ahead of spending 3 nights away from home together also meant they were more at ease and began to build bonds and friendships.
Our Woodland Retreat three-day residential then took place between 17th-20th July at The Burn Mansion House, this had been scheduled for the start of the school summer break.
Activities enjoyed by families during our residential included:
• Shiatsu massage and Reiki sessions
• Visits from Husky Haven, another favourite with the group
• Visits from Cool Creatures Animal Experience
• Board Games, treasure hunt, snooker/pool
• Putting, Archery, Football, Tennis, Rounders
• Beautiful Woodland Walks along the river
• Arts and Crafts workshops, provided by The Avenue, a particular favourite with the group
Exclusive use of the venue meant families could make best use of the grounds and house without fear of disturbing other guests and were always able to find space and quiet or be in good company if they preferred. The woodland setting allowed for exploration of the great outdoors and bringing activities to the house reduced the often complex travel arrangements required for families.
What Quarriers has learned
The most significant learning for our team was that, over the last 2 years, we have established a model that is really working for families and staff. The format, venue and approach are meeting the planned outcomes for families and is enhancing relationships and supports available to families longer term. Again, bringing families together ahead of the Residential, introducing them to each other, and also to external providers who would be delivering during the event, reduced anxiety and promoted a sense of excitement around the break.
The residential venue and in particular exclusive use of the venue creates the right environment for families to fully relax and take a break from their normal routines.
“Feeling supported and no pressure to act “normal” K could just be K”
Carer commenting on her favourite part of the residential
Families attending with young carers of the same age promoted peer support and friendships. These new connections for both young people and the wider family offer peer support that is sustainable beyond the life of the project itself.
Based on feedback we introduced additional creative, therapeutic and animal based activities. All were well received, and we have strengthened partnerships with local community providers that can enhance events in the future.
With this being our second visit to the venue staff at The Burn were even more accommodating and understanding of the needs of the families particularly around managing a variety of meal preferences and choices including some families bringing their own food.
How Quarriers has benefitted from the funding
Quarriers Aberdeenshire Carers Service again directly benefited from the learning gained during this Better Breaks funded activity, and our second visit to The Burn. With thanks to the funding and support from Shared Care Scotland we have continued to strengthen our relationships with families and promote wider carer engagement with our service. Our staff have been able to better understand the needs and challenges experienced by families, as well as some of the barriers to families seeking support. Having space to nurture relationships has encouraged families to attend other carer sessions, in particular young carers now attending art and activity sessions with their peers.
We have also strengthened our partnership working with local providers including The Burn venue, Husky Haven, Cool Creatures and, new to this year’s itinerary, Avenue, a charity based in the North East and providing support to families and individuals with a focus on relationships, wellbeing and children. The play therapy and Arts and Crafts workshops proved to be a popular addition.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Shared Care Scotland for all their support over the years. Quarriers carer service in Aberdeenshire has been transferred to another provider after a council tender process. We will be sorry not to be working with the team in the near future in Aberdeenshire but know staff will continue to work hard in support of Carers across the local authority.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
Children and young people with disabilities in remote and rural areas within Aberdeenshire will have had the opportunity to have a fun family break, make friends and confidently engage in new activities.
Results
7 young people with disabilities, alongside their families, successfully attended and enjoyed a "Family Summer Retreat" with exclusive use of The Burn holiday accommodation. All cared-for young people were actively engaged in activities of their choosing during the 3 days. For some young people this required sensitive support from experienced staff (see case study). The visit from Husky Dogs (therapy animals) and Cool critters were again particularly popular. Families feedback was that staying away over night as a family was a first-time experience for some.
Case study
(Names have been changed)
Rachel (Mum), Katy (Young Carer and Sister) and Scott (Cared- for and little brother) arrived at the Burn; Scott has multiple support needs and lives with Epilepsy, Pica and Autism. He is non-Verbal with sensory issues. The family coming away over night was a big step. When they pulled up Scott screamed for around an hour before Mum was able to get him from the car to their room. Once settled Scott calmed down, he refused to let Mum leave or interact with anyone else. This had a knock-on effect with older sister Katy not having quality time with Mum and was something the family were very familiar with.
After discussions with staff and Rachel, we tried to see if Scott would be happy to have a staff member stay with him to allow Mum time out. Rachel felt she was being held captive in “a lovely prison” by Scott. We worked together with staff and the family to ensure they were all able to settle for the first night and start to reassure everyone and build some bonds.
The next day a member of staff stayed with Scott, and he was fine and much calmer enabling Mum to get some time away. Mum managed to enjoy personal time getting holistic treatments and spending valuable, often hard to find, time with her daughter. This was a significant breakthrough for Mum and Scott, she realised that she could leave him with someone else something she had struggled with. Mum also realised how much her daughter Katy had been missing out with not spending time with Mum, this was a huge step for Rachel.
Husky Haven arrived that afternoon and after Katy took pictures of the dogs to show him, Scott got dressed for the first time since he arrived and came downstairs and joined the group, this was progress for them all and allowed Rachel to spend quality time with both children and the wider families.
The next day the Cool Creatures visited and again Scott who loves animals got dressed and came down and took part in the group activity. “(Scott) loved the Huskies and the Cool Creatures”. “(Katy enjoyed) absolutely everything, she really came out of herself”.
Quarriers staff spoke at length with Mum around the support that was available for her, katy and Scott, this was a fantastic opportunity to positively support Rachel who had not been actively engaging with the service prior to the trip away.
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. Improved engagement with specialist support services – accessing support they are entitled to
Results
17 carers were able to enjoy a Family Gathering social event at a beautiful hotel as well as our 3-night Summer Residential experience. With our tested model of delivery, carers were all able to attend the event as a family and also have opportunities to safely, and guilt free, enjoy time to themselves. The exclusive use of the facilities, and full catering that accommodated all family’s needs, meant that this was a genuine break from daily routines. Feedback again praised the setting of The Burn as it provided an idyllic and relaxing back drop.
Case study
See Case Study for Outcome 1 which incapsulates both outcomes (1&2) representing positive impacts for both carer and cared for.
In addition, written feedback from other carers attending the event reinforces that this impact was felt across the whole group.
“We had an amazing time, thank you so much for inviting us. We were very well looked after and the staff was fantastic. We are very grateful for this opportunity, made wonderful memories and made new friends. Thank you again.”
“Just want to thank you all for this amazing opportunity and how you all looked after everyone, we felt very lucky to be able to do this with you”
“We can’t thank Quarriers enough for the amazing retreat. All 4 of us just loved every minute. We hope to get the opportunity to go again.”
“My fav thing was just getting a break from everything. No cooking or cleaning….”
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
As in previous years the residential successfully helped adult and young carers build relationship with Quarriers staff. As detailed in Outcome 1 Case Study we have also been able to engage more effectively with families around the support the carers service can provide. Equally as important was the opportunity to bond with peers in a nurturing and safe environment. These relationships sustain beyond the activity and can provide a unique support that cannot be replicated.
Case study
(Names have been changed)
One family have felt the energising impact of the Retreat long beyond the Summer. Both Adult and Young Carers within the family report the benefits. Quarriers staff shared the following from a recent phone call: “I’m just off a phone call with Jane (Mum) from Banff. During the conversation she told me that her family had attended the Summer Retreat and that it had been “just amazing!” She said that they all had a wonderful time – it was so peaceful – and that her daughter had made friends with another young carer. Jane had been very taken with the Creature Comforts Leopard Gecko that they had met – in fact she was so besotted that they went out and bought one! Just thought I’d let you know that she’s still talking about her experience there yet”
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. Families will have made memories and enjoyed a break together
Results
Feedback and anecdotal evidence support this outcome, families were so grateful for the opportunity to spend some time away together and bond with others in similar situations. Peer support was an important part of the weekend and spending time with people in similar situations has been valuable for all families. Accessing therapeutic activities including Reiki and massage meant adult carers were able to re-charge their batteries and remind themselves its ok to take time to themselves. Both young carers and cared-for young people made new friends and were actively engaged in fun activities with the family or on their own if they preferred. Many tried new activities and all enjoyed meeting the animals.
Case study
(Names have been changed)
The Smith Family (Leanne, Brian, Susan and Ryan) got a lot out of their visit to the Burn. Ryan is 12 years old and has ADHD and PDA (Pathological demand avoidance). Mum, Leanne, also struggles with her own wellbeing and had a recent mental health crisis just ahead of attending the residential. Younger daughter, Susan, has also been challenged by poor wellbeing and an eating disorder. Quarriers staff had found it difficult to engage with the family.
After a full risk assessment and with reassurance and supports in place the family were able to attend all together. Staff reported that the quality time Leanne was able to spend and relax with her family really did her the power of good. For the first time, the family really interacted with the other families and the activities. Both parents thoroughly enjoyed the holistic therapies and reported feeling energised afterwards.
Feedback collected from all Carers included:
“It was so much better than expected, we have never done a group activity and we loved it”
“The quarriers staff were all so supportive, caring, I really felt listened to and understood especially in the day I felt overwhelmed”
“It was something I’ve never done with the kids before so even attending pushed my boundaries, but the experience was wonderful”
Two of the young carers have also seen each other again attending other organised group events hosted by the service. Going together has encouraged them to attend additional sessions/supports one of which was a creative group offering arts and crafts as well as fun physical activity.
One carer asked about the most beneficial aspect of the Residential said:
“I think having the company for the kids as well as myself and being in a safe environment”.
Another told us:
“Just keep doing what you’re doing, for parent/carers like me this is life changing, so thank you.”