Summary
The DDSC RESIDENTIAL SPORTS CAMP was a three night sports/activity camp held in the Scottish National Sports Centre, Largs providing physical activity and respite sessions for children and young people with additional support needs and parents and carers.
What Residential Disability Sports Camp did
The DDSC Residential Sports Camp took place at Scottish National Sports Centre, Inverclyde on Friday 9th - Monday 12th August 2019. The camp provided carefully designed sports/physical activity programme for children & young people with additional support needs and their siblings as well as a separate programme for parents and carers. Activities delivered to children and young people included dance, football, boccia, basketball, nature walk, arts and grafts, talent show, family quiz ... The programme for parents and carers included activities such as spin class, joga, dancing, family quiz, walks, massage ... To support the work DDSC does in the community on the weekly bases we also used the camp to provide our Disability Sports Youth Group members valuable experience how to support the delivery of physical activity sessions in the community. To support the DDSC work force and volunteers to deliver a highly successful, safe and enjoyable camp the DDSC worked in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust, Indepen-Dance, Marion Traill - Massage Therapist and Sportscotland.
What Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club has learned
We feel that the facility worked well for our families, the fact that we managed to book the whole facility to ourselves was a massive bonus. It created very relaxed environment where families were able to relax without worry how other people outside of the club would perceive them. The preparation before the camp with our partners is really important for the success of the camp. After working together for the past three years we all have a clear understanding how to deliver safe and successful camp and answering the needs of our families. To increase the number of new families attending the camp the club reached other local disability groups to advertise the camp. This had a big impact as 30% of the families were first timers.
How Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club has benefitted from the funding
This year the Better Breaks funding helped our young people with additional support needs from DDSC Disability Sports Youth Group gain valuable experience of assisting professional sports coaches to deliver the sessions. The funding also help to improve the partnership with West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust (providing professional sports coaches for the camp as well as equipment) which has since provided a platform to start talks with their Swimming Development to create a Disability Learn to Swim Scheme providing one to one or small group swimming lessons for children and young people with additional support needs in West Dunbartonshire area.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
55 Children & young people with additional support needs and 5 siblings participated in a three nights Residential Sports Camp enjoying 20 hours of sport sessions delivered by qualified sports coaches.
Results
The Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club provided their members and other children and young people from the community a three nights residential sports camp with 20 hours of fun and rewarding activities such as dance, football, boccia, basketball, nature walk, arts and grafts, talent show, family quiz ... . 55 children and young people with multiple support needs attended all 20 hours of activity. As a result of the camp the DDSC has increased its membership by six new young people who now benefit its weekly physical activity sessions in the community.
Case study
My son's diagnosis is autism with several learning difficulties and did not participate in any physical activity clubs or sessions prior to the camp. We were aware that when attending the camp that some of the other children knew each other and that the camp was ran by already established local club. When we arrived at the camp our son recognised some of the children he goes school with. At start, he was reluctant to join the sessions on offer but due to the constant encouragement from the staff and other participants he slowly stared to participate in the sessions. The camp also provided myself and my husband a valuable respite opportunities to participate in the activity sessions on offer but more importantly the camp provided us with an opportunity to socialise, talk and share experiences with other parents in a similar situation. As a result of the camp my son has join the weekly DDSC Multi Sports sessions and Social Swimming sessions.
Outcome
50 parents/carers participate in a three night fun residential sports/activity camp enjoying rewarding 18 hours of respite opportunities from Massage, Dancing to Fitness classes and nature walks.
Results
The Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club provided parents & carers of children and young people with multiple support needs a three nights residential sports camp with 20 hours of relaxing and rewarding activities such as spin class, joga, dancing, family quiz, walks, massage ... and some "me time "while their children were participating in physical activity sessions organised by the club coaches. all 50 parents and carers took part on the activities and as a result of the camp, five parents have joined the DDSC Parent Fit club enjoying weekly spin class, massages and group walks.
Case study
My son with multiple support needs was well cared for by everyone in the camp. This gave my husband and I an unusual opportunity to spend some time together participating in different physical activity sessions. The activities were well organised and perfectly suited for the audience and has given me a wee kick to start looking after my own health. Since the camp my husband and I have joined the local gym and the DDSC Parents Fit Club and I'm looking forward to a healthier 2019 -2020.
Outcome
55 children and young people with disabilities and their carers report feeling more relaxed and less stressed as a result of the Sports Camp.
Results
The feedback form the camp questioner and the parents camp forum we can safely say that the 55 children and young people with additional support needs and their parents all end up feeling more relaxed and less stressed as a result of the camp.
Case study
My daughter suffers from autism and finds it difficult to interact with others, especially in a new environment with large number of people. As a result of her condition we rarely attend events or holidays as a family. This was our first time at the camp. It took a lot of courage and preparation from everyone in the family to join the camp. The facility was perfectly suited for our needs. The fact that our daughter was unable to leave the building without a key card abled her to move around the facility more freely without us following her every step. The camp provided us with really important family time to participate in the activities without worrying what other people would think if/when our child will “kicking off”. We felt revitalised after the camp and looking forward similar camps in the future.