Summary
Our project aims to provide young adult carers with respite from their caring role and by accessing activities that they identified they would not be able to participate in.
What Time to Chill did
After consultation with young adult carers, we were able to provide 2 visits to Glasgow. The young carers requested a day trip to Glasgow and an overnight stay at a Spa hotel.
We had a day in Glasgow where the young people enjoyed an open top bus tour followed by lunch and 10 pin bowling.
The second trip was an overnight stay at a Spa hotel with meals provided.
These trips supported the health and well-being of the young carers while building confidence and self-esteem and reducing loneliness and isolation.
What Young carers Crossroads caring for carers Cowal & Bute SCIO has learned
We learned that given the opportunities young adult carers can enjoy themselves while getting respite from their caring roles.
Due to their caring role they find it hard to put themselves first, we found it up-lifting to be able to provide them with the opportunity to have fun, relax and consider their own well-being.
It was particularly nice for Cowal young adult carers and Bute young adult carers to meet up and build friendships.
How Young carers Crossroads caring for carers Cowal & Bute SCIO has benefitted from the funding
Due to the funding from creative Breaks we have been able to enhance the lives of young adult carers, create opportunities and exciting events and excursions.
Events like these would be difficult if not impossible for the young carers to be able to participate in.
We delight in being to offer activities and outings such as these to a groups who had previously been disengaged.
This has been a fabulous moral boosting experience and they are keen to plan and book follow up activities.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
14 young adult carers will take part in activities planned by themselves, supported by Crossroads young carers staff.
Results
This project was achieved.
Young carers had a planning night where they discussed and planned the activities they would like to attend.
14 young adult carers enjoyed the trips to Glasgow where they enjoyed open top bus tour, 10 pin bowling, meaqls and an overnight stay at a Spa hotel.
This improved their health and well-being and gave them an opportunity to relax with peers.
Case study
One young adult carer had not been swimming nor out of the local area for some time.
The young person was anxious about getting into the pool to enjoy the spa facilities, this young person refused to visit the facilities on her own, with gentle persuasion and support form staff the young person found the courage to enter the pool alongside staff and peers, the following morning we were delighted to learn that this particular young adult had felt confident enough to go to the pool area on her own.
This was a huge triumph for this young person, she pushed herself out of her comfort zone and increased her confidence.
This young person stated “This is the best day I’ve had in years!”
“I love the energy of the two of you “
“ its so nice getting out of Dunoon for a while”
Outcome
Carers will feel better supported to sustain their caring role.
14 young adult carers will have increased support from their caring roles.
Results
14 young adult carers enjoyed time away from their caring role.
The time away allowed them the opportunity to mix with peers and build relationship, thus improving their confidence and self-esteem.
Case study
The young adult carers forged good friendships with their peer group.
one stated " it was good to meet other people in similar situations and share experiences. it was lovely just to have someone listen and understand the difficulties that I go through"