Residentials and Breaks for Young Carers

Outcome

Young carers will be equipped with new skills that enable them to cope with their caring duties in a positive, balanced manner, benefitting their own mental health and wellbeing while ensuring that those that they care for are looked after as best as they can be.

Results

All the trips have allowed young people to build on their self-esteem and well-being. Many of the challenges faced on the Ocean Youth Trust sailing trip were at first daunting , however working together the young people encouraged each other and gained a great sense of achievement when these tasks were accomplished. Great friendships were created and are continue today, allowing a greater social circle for Young Carers who often struggle to develop friendships and can become isolated. Some of the tasks gave Young Carers an understanding of how difficult it can be to cope with adversity, giving a greater understanding of the day to day challenges faced by the person they care for.

Case study

Sammy is 15 and cares for her Mum who has MS, her caring role requires her to provide physical and emotional support to her mum. Additional to coping with her caring role Sammy’s life is further impacted by the severe anxiety she suffers from.
We delivered 2 sessions prior to the trip to allow young people to meet the OYT staff and the other young people who were attending the voyage. Sammy attended the second of these and found it very difficult to cope with meeting the new people in the room, she had a panic attack but was supported by FYC’s workers to take part in the second part of the session.
The night before the trip Sammy’s Mum contacted FYC’s Manager to say that Sammy was struggling with the thought of coming on the trip and was backing out. Her mum was doing some ‘tough love’ and had told Sammy she would need to contact us herself to let us know she wasn’t coming. Sammy didn’t want to disappoint and refused to make the phone call. We agreed with mum that she could if necessary travel with Sammy to the bus pick up point. Sammy found the journey to Oban very difficult but staff used distraction techniques with her and she managed to cope. There was a further anxiety attack on the first night but staff supported her through this.
As the days went on Sammy blossomed and took part fully in all aspects of the trip, she made new friendships and excelled on all the tasks given to her. She was highlighted by the crew to be invited back for bosun and young leader training which she is very keen to take part in. Her initial WEMWBS was 27 (a score of 41 or below is considered below average mental wellbeing), Sammy’s post activity score was 55.

My daughter looks after me, her mum, as I have Multiple Sclerosis. Her caring roles take on a variety of tasks. Due to a significant personal experience, my daughter suffers from severe anxiety and PTSD. At first we did not think that she would even get on the boat as her anxiety levels were through the roof and she was terrified and angry that I had made her go. The Young Carers managed to calm her down enough for her to make the journey to the boat but the actuality of boarding was something else!
After a turbulent and upsetting first night, with help from everyone at YC and the staff with the OYT, my daughter began to relax and engage in the experience. By the end of the trip my daughter was positively glowing and her confidence had been boosted to an exceptional level that none of us expected! Since her return she has remained so positive about this trip that she wants to continue and do her Bosun training. Words cannot express how this trip helped my daughter blossom, both personally and with her confidence to meet and trust new people, and how much as parents we appreciated this and can't thank the staff enough. Thank you ?

Outcome

Carers will still be in touch with friends made on the breaks, will recommend our residentials and break to others and will want to attend future respite breaks.

Results

Comments from many of our Young Carers who attended the residential and Christmas Day trips to Fordel Firs have showed how much they have enjoyed the activities and meeting new friends, who they will continue to socialist . Some of the comments:
Fun
Fantastic
Thrilling
Good
Brillamazing
Extravagant
Many of the young people on the trip grew massively in their confidence in their abilities and rose to the many challenges offered to them such as the Jacob’s Ladder and Giant Zip wire. They were observed by staff in improving resilience and forming new friendships.

Case study

Case Study :
John is 12 years old and looks after his Mum and step mum. He does not have access to many opportunities outside of school. John has only just been referred to FYC and not long assessed. This was his first big trip with FYC and had only been at group once before this. He did not know anyone else.
The first day John was quite nervous, however with staff encouragement he came out his shell and made some new friends. By the second day he had gained confidence and flourished at all activities, he worked well as a team and got on well with YC’s and staff. Because of his positive behaviour with the group, John was promoted to ‘Prefect’ to help encourage the younger YC’s on the trip. He took this role in his stride, reassuring them when something was scary and helping them when they needed it.
John was a credit to us on the trip to Fordel Firs, he said himself what a difference it has been for him and allowed him to really connect with other YC’s and make lasting friendships

Outcome

Young carers will be able to turn to new friends for help and will have a much wider support network. They will feel a closer bond with the support workers attending the residentials and will feel more comfortable turning to them for advice when life is difficult and challenging.

Results

The Young carers attending both the Fordell and Ocean Youth Trust Sailing trip developed close friendships with peers. The nature of the activities required close team work and living so close together, especially on the sailing, with other young people for all backgrounds developed young peoples social skills. Being with support workers for a few days rather than a few hours allowed greater time for 1:1 discussion and building of relationship.
Comments from young people:
“I’m good at steering!”
“my day went better than expected”
“My day went really well as I learnt new skills and got to meet new people”
“Today was good fun – saw a minky whale and learnt to tie knots”
“Cake competition was the best! We won!”
“My goal was to keep calm and I achieved it”
“My goal was to make sure I’m involving myself and I achieved it”
“ I had fun playing cards with everyone and learning new things”

Case study

Sammy is 15 and cares for her Mum who has MS, her caring role requires her to provide physical and emotional support to her mum. Additional to coping with her caring role Sammy’s life is further impacted by the severe anxiety she suffers from.
We delivered 2 sessions prior to the trip to allow young people to meet the OYT staff and the other young people who were attending the voyage. Sammy attended the second of these and found it very difficult to cope with meeting the new people in the room, she had a panic attack but was supported by FYC’s workers to take part in the second part of the session.
The night before the trip Sammy’s Mum contacted FYC’s Manager to say that Sammy was struggling with the thought of coming on the trip and was backing out. Her mum was doing some ‘tough love’ and had told Sammy she would need to contact us herself to let us know she wasn’t coming. Sammy didn’t want to disappoint and refused to make the phone call. We agreed with mum that she could if necessary travel with Sammy to the bus pick up point. Sammy found the journey to Oban very difficult but staff used distraction techniques with her and she managed to cope. There was a further anxiety attack on the first night but staff supported her through this.
As the days went on Sammy blossomed and took part fully in all aspects of the trip, she made new friendships and excelled on all the tasks given to her. She was highlighted by the crew to be invited back for bosun and young leader training which she is very keen to take part in. Her initial WEMWBS was 27 (a score of 41 or below is considered below average mental wellbeing), Sammy’s post activity score was 55.
Sammy’s mum states:
My daughter looks after me, her mum, as I have Multiple Sclerosis. Her caring roles take on a variety of tasks. Due to a significant personal experience, my daughter suffers from severe anxiety and PTSD. At first we did not think that she would even get on the boat as her anxiety levels were through the roof and she was terrified and angry that I had made her go. The Young Carers managed to calm her down enough for her to make the journey to the boat but the actuality of boarding was something else!
After a turbulent and upsetting first night, with help from everyone at YC and the staff with the OYT, my daughter began to relax and engage in the experience. By the end of the trip my daughter was positively glowing and her confidence had been boosted to an exceptional level that none of us expected! Since her return she has remained so positive about this trip that she wants to continue and do her Bosun training. Words cannot express how this trip helped my daughter blossom, both personally and with her confidence to meet and trust new people, and how much as parents we appreciated this and can't thank the staff enough. Thank you ?