For the full report, including outcomes, please read our Grant Impact report on Shared Care Scotland here.
BANG delivered a one day a week summer camp for ASN Families , young carers and dedicated Youth Camp based at Tweedbank Community Centre . We also went on Quiet Residential at Netherurd House in August with 15 ASN Young people aged 16-19 years of age. We delivered a one day a week ASN Summer Camp in Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders for Families parent carers, young carers and ASN young people 0-16, including a dedicated ASN Youth Camp for youths aged 11-15 years of age. Providing inclusive access to sports, creative arts, peer support. Delivered a Sensory quiet residential for ASN youth aged 16-19 years of age.
What Respite, Residential, Relax - 3 R'S for ASN Families and Youths did
BANG delivered a one day a week summer camp for ASN Families , young carers and dedicated Youth Camp which was based at Tweedbank Community Centre . We also went on Quiet Residential at Netherurd House in August with 15 ASN Young people aged 16-19 years of age.
We opened out event to any ASN family in Scottish Borders and created booking via Eventbrite, the event was 4 hours with 2 sessions on sporting activities and creative arts, we provided sensory family play area, quiet area and worked with stakeholders to offer parent carers zone - peer support, information sessions- meet and greet sessions with Childsmile, NHS health improvement team, Children and families Social work. In addition we provided parent carers with Free Reiki and massage, during the summer camp. Parent could access peer support, access to information and services in a dedicated parent zone and young carers enjoyed sports and creative art, and participated fully in the camp facilities. The last week of ASN Summer/Youth Camp we held a family fun day with bouncy castles, buffets and fun aimed to end the summer with family festival.
The ASN young people were identified form our dedicated ASN Youth project who went on 3 days residential trip to Netherurd and we organised and planned activities for them including silent disco, Cool creature exploring exotic animals and archery, fire building. Parent carers enjoyed 3 day respite during this time, for one parent this was the first time she had overnight respite for over 10 years and she enjoyed a trip to visit her sister in England. For some of our young people who could not manage overnight stay due to anxiety, stress and the need for home routine we invited them along for a day visit with their parents, we created activities for the day visit and included parents within this, inviting them to join in , have fun with their young person and ended the day with a cooked ' family' tea.
The Camp and residential was a huge success and for ASN Youths aged 16-19 years of age they have asked for a residential that focuses them on independent living , making beds, budgets and cooking . We will factor this into our longer term outcomes. For parent carers they have highlighted their continued involved with sports and creative arts and are accessing more community events, with better connections to their community support.
What Borders Additional Needs Group has learned
The charity was challenged by rising core costs to deliver the project. We are working closely with local authority to support this imitative and to drive some investment into the delivery of Sumer Camps.
We have developed more partnerships with local stakeholders and statutory services utilise the camp as a way for them to offer support in fun inclusive manner - oral heath, Children social work, social security Scotland etc.
The challenges we identified were on core costs and purchasing equipment to ensure we are inclusive and catering to a wide range of needs- we have drafted up funding applications to support with equipment for sensory , physical needs.
How Borders Additional Needs Group has benefitted from the funding
The project has been catalyst for promoting Charity and we have benefitted from requests and specifically Equality and inclusion. We are supporting other charities and sports, recreation providers with knowledge and capacity building to deliver more inclusive sessions outwith summer camp.We have expanded our services with development of Parent Led monthly support for under 11s and had steep rise in membership.
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