Summary
Weekend Warriors brought children and young people with additional needs together at Rouken Glen Park, East Renfrew to take part in a weekend club which aimed to build skills, confidence and friendships and provided a break for parents and carers. The focus was on safe fun, friendship and learning.
What Weekend Warriors did
Weekend Warriors was a weekend club delivered weekly for children and young people with learning disabilities and additional complex needs. Weekend Warriors took place at the YES Academy, Rouken Glen Park, East Renfrewshire and focussed on children and young people with the most complex needs who have less opportunities to take part in fun activities than their non-disabled peers due to their high support needs and who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Weekend Warriors provided regular support for disabled children aged from 3-20, providing 2 x 3 hour sessions- one for those under 12 years and one for those over 12 years every week for 30 weeks. We delivered 3 blocks of 10 weeks with 10-12 children in each session. Weekend Warriors also focussed on children with autism, providing regular, safe activities and a routine. Parents, carers and families of disabled children benefitted from the regular break provided by Weekend Warriors which helped sustain them and gave them opportunities to have a break, be with other family members, shop and rest.
Weekend Warriors had a focus on those families who are most in need of a short break to sustain them in their caring role with a focus on mutual benefit of a safe, fun environment for children and a regular breaks for families and carers. Particular successes included the use of outdoor play and spaces, the inclusion of regular additional activities and facilitators, engagement with the families through the family forum to shape future plans and impact of the breaks on their quality of life.
What Cosgrove Care has learned
Project Planning and Budgeting- we have learned the importance of Plan B during the past year- always being able to adapt to meet changing circumstances and guidelines- keeping children and families fully connected with this process and having effective and robust project planning processes in place. We have improved our budgeting processes through the introduction of our new IT system which has allowed us to maximise the efficiency and the impact of our Shared Care funded activity.
Targeting families most in need of support- we have learned to reach out to partner organisations and extend referral pathways to strengthen our reach and engagement with families most in need. We have also been able to refer these families on to other services to offer wider support- eg being food and activity parcels to support families impacted by the cost of living crisis. The Carers Centre has been a great point of contact to target families too.
Partnership Working- the partnerships established with Young Enterprise Scotland
How Cosgrove Care has benefitted from the funding
Better Breaks funding has really helped Cosgrove Care by giving us the opportunity to pilot and finesse online support and support buddies as a means to tailor support to need. We were also able to use the funding to leverage other funding for short breaks- allowing us to deliver the full programme. We have built our organisational knowledge too around family engagement and participation, making it more meaningful and we believe we have been able to really embrace co-production in how we have been able to shape services with carers and families to ensure what we do it targeted and making a difference.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
Children and young people will have had opportunities to participate in a range of new activities, contribute to a lasting artwork piece on their experience of COVID-19 and expressed their views on impact, will have met and made new friends and to have gained confidence in their own talents.
Results
All the children and young people coming along to Weekend Warriors have participated in a broad range of activities each week and have made connections through their attendance. Carers have reported that children have had fun, learned new skills and made new connections which has enhanced their lives.
Case study
A is an 8 years old girl with learning disabilities, autism and complex health needs. Before Weekend Warriors, as a result of her health needs, A was isolating. She had limited contact with her peers and her family reported a deterioration in her skills, increased tension with siblings and a deterioration in A's mental health. They reported real tensions and stress within the family. Weekend Warriors allowed A to connect with new friends, try new activities and have fun. The wider family have benefitted as a result of improved family dynamics, A is regaining skills and the family dynamic has been restored.
Outcome
120 Carers/families will be reporting examples of changes to their life because of the increased support for their cared for young person such as new hobbies, activities with other children, time to shop/recharge their batteries. We will have evidence of carers/ families taking up new hobbies.
Results
This outcome was achieved- carers and families were able to report and confirm the changes and impact of Weekend Warriors which included spending more time with other children, opportunities to join clubs themselves, to re-charge their batteries and relax. This was as a result of regular, consistent times of the support and opportunities to share experiences and engage directly with us to report outcomes. Families and carers have appreciated consistency and regularity of support offered by Weekend Warriors.
Case study
F is a 15 years old boy with Down's syndrome and challenging behaviour. He lives at home with his mum who is his main carer. F's mum has been under pressure during lockdown with limited support to help her re-charge her batteries, meet friends and enjoy her life out with her caring role. Weekend Warriors has allowed her join a Book Club and regularly meet her friends, improving her quality of life and ability to continue to provide care for her son. She has enjoyed getting time on her own, secure in the knowledge that F is enjoying fun activities in a safe environment.
Outcome
Carers will have participated in consultation sessions and will have had opportunities to connect with other families, the wider network of support available to them and have had a say in shaping the activities and supports that are delivered and that they will need into the future.
Results
The Family Forum, 1:1 consultation sessions and activity days have given families the opportunity to meet other families and learn and connect with other local support providers. The sessions allowed families to shape the continuation bid as well as shape our 2021-25 Strategy- Bright Futures. This has been critical to allowing carers to get the right support to sustain them in their caring role, influencing priorities and allowing us to adjust our offer and communicate views to other organisations and groups.
Case study
M is mum of three children with complex needs who is a member of the family forum. As a family they found it very difficult to find activities and supports that allowed their children to get personalised support at the same time, giving the mum and dad the opportunity to re-charge their batteries knowing the children were having fun. Weekend Warriors Family Forum allowed us to respond to the issues raised by M and create a siblings group as part of our Weekend Warriors Offer. M then shaped the priorities for the continuation bid, urging other carers and family members to come forwards with their suggestions to ensure needs are met. They are now advocates of the Family Forum and encourage others to come forward.