Summary
Mini Denners provided regular bespoke creative "nursery style" sessions for children under 5 at Jak’s Den and online allowing them the chance to play and socialise reducing the loneliness and isolation of a cancer journey, enabling fun once more, whilst allowing carers the time and space to be themselves and relax.
What Mini Denners- Team Jak did
Team Jak have presented weekly two-hour creative sessions including music time with their Mini Denners Music sack, Storytime, messy play, themed snack, arts and crafts and free play time in Jak’s Den HQ and occasionally in Jak's Den Aberdeen and Storytime and more recently for those in hospital who cannot come to Jak’s Den but can enjoy on the ward and still feel part of the proceedings.
Whilst the under 5's are enjoying this experience their carers have enjoyed coffee and chat with their peers and staff and volunteers and also if desired, received a pamper- back massage or facial in our Pamper Pod to allow them the chance to relax for a short time with their child nearby.
The Mini Denners sessions incorporate creative aspects of the calendar year including the seasons, special dates, and general themes that suit this age group, with each week having a different theme either seasonal and/or relating to the children’s requests.
Activities in person include safe messy play, musical activities- singing, dance and percussion instruments, along with toys and other props required for songs, drama games, storytelling (with props) arts and crafts, safe outdoor play experiences, construction activities, Lego, dressing up, small world play, IT, playdough and personal and social development opportunities including snack time and ongoing seasonal fun.
The sessions in Jaks Dens are two-hour sessions with a balance of activities above led by our CYP Coordinator and Play Worker and Volunteers.
Our Mini Denners have had a great year and made friends and become more confident as a result. Some of our children hadn't been able to interact with others their age due to their treatment and Mini Denners has provided that safe place for them to be "a child" and play and interact with others.
What Team Jak Foundation has learned
Project planning is fun and we always have lots of ideas and more. Budgeting is not so easy as the way the application process works we apply 6 months in advance of the actual project and as we know in this world of uncertainty so much can change within that time.
Targeting families and reaching out engaging with new families has been something we have worked hard on this year and has been covered in a previous question re hospital outreach and the importance of this in order to reach new families and also encourage them to then attend our main Jaks Den sessions weekly when they can thereafter.
We are constantly reviewing the activities we have on offer and introducing new ways of working regularly. We work with a local beauty salon who sends in a pamper lady each week and we have also had visits from Caterpillar music and a storyteller to add to the programme.
The biggest challenge for us is attendance - because of the nature of cancer and especially in children we cannot tell from day to day how the child will be often we do only have a small number attending- but we adapt accordingly- it is frustrating for staff when they were expecting triple the number but they are very god at adapting with a smile.
The unexpected opportunity for us this year was again the hospital opportunity and I believe we did the right thing taking sessions onto the ward and day care as as a result a number of families are now engaging in Jaks Den activities that would not have otherwise.
Funding is an issue like we know it is for many at the moment. We have recently grown from a small charity to medium and because our outgoings are up to £56000 per month our annual income is now too big for a lot of grants we were more or less guaranteed previously.This has put a lot of pressure on myself to ensure we find new income streams to allow us to continue to provide all of the services we do at the high standard folks have become accustomed to. It is a constant battle and we are having to think out the box more and more due to cost of living and competition for grant funding but we will not give up and will always find a way.
How Team Jak Foundation has benefitted from the funding
We have developed new links with local groups- e.g. Caterpillar music, Storyteller, we have indeed piloted our new hospital session which has in turn strengthened our numbers expanded word of mouth to new families and indeed we believe strengthened our reputation as a reliable and trustworthy charity. We have been able to develop our staffs skills and knowledge also through our training on trauma and with kids on play therapy and theory.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
70-90+ Carers will feel less isolated. They will share with others about the benefits of the sessions, and be more confident in their every day journey having a safe place to relax and be themselves whilst socialising with others on a childhood cancer journey
Results
The case study proves that the carers get as much from the sessions as the children do and that often they are "forgotten" about on their child's cancer journey. They often feel alone and scared and apprehensive to share how they feel for fear of breaking down or looking weak. Mini Denners has given them that safe outlet and allowed them the space and time they need to be able to get to know others and through time and coming weekly where possible, are able to relax and feel like they are not the only ones on this journey.
Case study
One family attend regularly and bring Gran and auntie and cousins also. This is hugely important as the whole family are exceptionally close and the other adults in the family have been badly affected by the child's diagnosis and ongoing treatment- which happens in England so often they are all separated at times of treatment.
Having Mini Denners has allowed the family time to come together in a safe and sterile environment, and allow the cousins time to play together, but more importantly allow the gran and auntie time to receive support for how they feel which they often are scared to admit to- whilst trying to keep a brave face for the child's parent.
Mini Denners allows them the time and space to meet with others and talk through how they feel and as a result they now feel better equipped to support the warrior and parent but also deal with their own anxieties. This is even more poignant as the child has sadly recently relapsed and the family have said Mini Denners is the one place they can come and just feel relaxed and don't have to explain if they don't want to.
Outcome
60+ children and their carers will have attended our sessions in person and online throughout the year and as a result be more confident in themselves and have built a wider social group and developed knowledge and experience of activities available within Jak’s Den, pop-ups, outreach covid permitting and online
Results
Yes with more numbers than above cumulatively throughout the year as a result of our initial additional online sessions which then turned into "on the ward" sessions weekly which has allowed us to reach so many more carers and under 5s through our "mini" Mini Denners sessions on the ward in Glasgow hospital.
Children have had great fun exploring lots of seasonal and other fun themes through stories songs, crafts and messy play throughout the year and carers have gained confidence in accepting their situation by having the opportunity to get to know other carers and become friends with them and give and receive support at other times also now as a result of our sessions.
Some also attend our Friday Fun Club with their other children too as a result of having attended Mini Denners also.
Case study
The hospital sessions organically developed as a result of our CYP Lead telling families about our session in Jaks Den and some being long-term patients on the ward and whilst waiting on treatment etc and them requesting sessions to help ease their long and stressful days.
This has worked so well where the children engage in music time with our Mini Denners sacks, hear a story then engage in a craft, and carers are given a coffee or tea in a flask mug and led by the other TJ staff member in supporting each other on the ward.
The feedback from parents has been very positive saying how grateful they are as their children spend most of their day in their won room and they love getting out to spend time with others for this session. The parents also love spending time together as again they too are stuck in their rooms so the opportunity to mix with and support others going through this journey have been far reaching.
Mini Denners in general has also allowed carers and children the opportunity to receive further more bespoke support where required e.g. counselling and Bag of Worries support and music therapy.