Summary
Our project involved attending/arranging a number of dance-related events for our inclusive Youth Dance Company Young 1'z, made up of 20 disabled children and young people. These events included a weekend residency at Solas Festival, Perthshire on 16-18th June 2023, a Diversity Disco on 21st October 2023 at the Pearce Institute (Glasgow), Christmas bowling and meal on 15th December 2023 in Glasgow, YDance Destinations Festival on 16th March 2024 and a Movie night on 27th March 2024 (Glasgow).
What Weekend Away Dance Activities did
The first part of our project was taking our inclusive youth dance company to the Solas Festival in Perthshire between 16th-18th June 2023. This was a residential event where the dancers stayed overnight in Yurts. This was a great experience, with the young disabled people taking part in a variety of activities on offer across the weekend including music workshops, storytelling workshops and watching bands. The company also performed twice as well as delivering workshops. The weekend went to plan; given that it was an outdoor festival we were fortunate the weather held up.
On Saturday 21st October 2023 we then accompanied the Young 1'z to a Diversity Disco at the Pearce Institute in Glasgow. We ordered food, providing dinner for everyone.
On 15th December 2023 we organised for the Young 1'z to go bowling and for a meal as a Christmas celebration.
On 16th March 2024 we took the Young 1'z to YDance Destinations Festival at The Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock. Here the dancers had the opportunity to perform to a live audience at one of Scotland's leading performing arts venues amongst other young dancers from across Scotland.
Finally, on 27th March 2024, Indepen-dance held a movie and pizza night for the Young 1'z.
The Solas Festival providing the carers with a full weekend break from their caring responsibilities, whilst the four other events provided an day/evening/afternoon break. A number of the carers said that these events support by better breaks allowed them to "spend time with family" such as their other children "which we don't get the same opportunity to do otherwise". Carers also said that these breaks let them "have some time on my own with friends", "go out for meals and long walks which would have been much more difficult" and "have time to relax knowing my young person was in safe hands and having a fabulous experience with amazing people".
What Indepen-dance has learned
For one of the young people it was their first time coming away with Indepen-dance when we went away to Solas festival on the weekend dance residency. This project therefore enabled us to reach out to and engage with a new family by providing them with support via a longer, multiple night residency. Additionally, 2 other members who had not participated in activities outside of dance classes with Indepen-dance participated in the shorter day activities.
We were also able to trial the use of a different technology to plan the events. 'Notion' keeps a note of the registers and an itinerary to help us keep a better record and provide regular updates to the parents of the young people who participated in Solas Festival.
How Indepen-dance has benefitted from the funding
Our organisation benefited from this grant as we were able to strengthen our reputation. Many of the parents and carers feedback surrounding the activities we ran included specific praise of Indepen-dance, such as "just keep on doing what you do! You are all amazing!", "the same support as Indepen-dance offers us continuing would be great" and "I'm very happy with the support Indepen-dance provides. Being part of Indepen-dance is a very important part of [young person's name]'s life. I would be happy for Indepen-dance to arrange more opportunities for [young persons name] to be together with this group".
Project Outcomes
Outcome
Up to 20 young disabled people will have more opportunities to have fun, develop friendships and participate in an inclusive dance activity and days out suited to their needs.
Results
This project outcome was achieved to a full extent. All of those who gave us feedback who participated in at least of the activities we ran through better breaks gave positive feedback. At least 50% of those who gave us feedback mentioned that they "enjoyed" an aspect of the activities or that they "had fun". Many of the disabled young people liked the dancing involved with the activities, for example one person mentioned that "at Ydance we got to watch different styles if dance like contemporary, lyrical, tap, ballet and do workshops teaching you these different styles which I enjoyed". 100% of those who participated in the activities and gave us feedback mentioned that they made or developed friendships, with many disabled young specifically mentioning in their feedback that they "liked spending time with friends" and one person specifically mentioning that that "these activities are a great way to interact with each other inside and outside of dance".
Case study
I spoke to the parent of one of the individuals who attended just the movie night that we ran with better breaks funding. She said that she is very nervous about having full days/afternoons without their disabled young person away from Glasgow due to their condition which was why the movie night was perfect and something that their young person could get involved in. This demonstrated that it was really beneficial that we ran a variety of activities with the better breaks funding rather than just one residency, for example. When I spoke to the Young person herself she said that she loved the movie night as it was a great opportunity to make and spend time with her friends. Her positive experience will hopefully mean that she can grow in confidence in spending time away from her usual routine and her usual support network/family, and that her parents can also gain confidence in their disabled young person having time apart from them.
Outcome
Carers of up to 20 disabled children and young people will have more opportunities to enjoy a life outside of their caring role
Results
This project outcome was achieved to a full extend. All but one of the carers who gave us feedback about their young person said that having a break from caring met their needs. The one person who said that this break did not meet their caring needs explained that they have to accompany their young person so they did not feel their caring need were met. All others mentioned that they got to do things during their breaks that "don't get the same opportunity to do otherwise" due to their caring responsibilities. This included a mentioned from multiple carers about "spending time with family", being able to "relax or go out", "go out for meals" or "long walks".
Case study
One of the carers of their young person who attended the activities mentioned that the break "gave me the opportunity to relax a little and enjoy time for myself", which demonstrates them enjoying life outside their caring role. The fact that this carer mentioned something as simple as this in their feedback highlights how in demand their time is a result of their duty of care and in turn how important breaks such as these are for the carers we support.
Outcome
Carers of our disabled young people will feel better supported to sustain their caring role.
Results
Yes, almost 100% of the carers of disabled children and young people who benefited from the project and who gave feedback said that having a break met their caring needs. A number of carers mentioned how breaks enable them to "relax", whilst their young person has a good time away doing the activity, explaining that breaks are beneficial for both.
Case study
One carer mentioned that the break from caring that the events/the project provided "gave me the opportunity to relax a little and enjoy time for myself. If I am relaxed then my son is more relaxed also. So it benefits us both." This demonstrates that the ability to relax as a result of having a break enables them to better care for their son once the break is over and directly shows how the activities we run with better breaks funding have a mutual benefit for the carer and the cared for.
Outcome
Disabled children and young people and their carers will have improved wellbeing.
Results
This outcome was achieved to a full extent. The majority of carers who gave us feedback (75%) said that having a break improved their wellbeing, whilst 100% of carers said that the person they support had an improved wellbeing. This was supported by the 100% of positive feedback from the disabled young people when asked about their thoughts, feelings or experiences surrounding the activities.As aforementioned, much of the feedback from parent/carers was centred on the mutual benefit of improved wellbeing of breaks for both them and the person they care for - e.g., "knowing my young person is happy and is supported to have a full and active life with such great activities really helps my health and wellbeing and is a great support to me".
Case study
One parent/carer said that the events enabled their son to "do activities with his peers which he loves and comes back less stressed. We both benefit from the break". This highlights how the project has resulted in an improvement of both the carer and the cared for person. The carer additionally explained that "being able to hang out with other young people without me being there gives him a greater sense of independence", again demonstrating an improvement of their wellbeing. This was matched by another parent’s feedback; they shared that by having a break, their young person "gets happier" and that as a parent they become "more relaxed". This was followed by this parent sharing that "spending time socialising with his friends, rehearsing and performing all helps [name of young person]'s self esteem and confidence", which is enabled by the break.