barnardo’s · we hope you enjoy reading our short report which summarises ... was succeeded by...

Barnardo’s

Dundee

Family Support Team

Annual Summary

2013-2014

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DFST 2 Annual Summary

We hope you enjoy reading our short report which summarises

the work of the Family Support Team from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014, and has for me particular highlights, not least:

May and October Residential Holidays Playschemes during school holidays

Riding, Tuesday Youth & VIP Sibling Groups Growing Up service one year on and awards evening

These 12 months saw a significant amount of change in the project. We said goodbye to 2 long standing members of staff. Najima Umar, our Volunteer Co-ordinator, who

was succeeded by Louise Rawe. Louise recruits for all Barnardo’s Dundee Services, having previously worked in retail with Barnardo’s for over 4 years. Also Aileen Gibb,

our early years family worker, who was succeeded by Denise Wilson. Denise, is a qualified occupational therapist, play therapist and Floortime practitioner, bringing a

wide range of experience and skill, particularly in autism, welcome and timely, given the increase in children referred in the early years, who have a diagnosis of autism.

Students played a major role, with two Community Learning and Development students from Dundee University joining us. Beth Norman was our CLD intern for 6

months and undertook a detailed Family Survey with an emphasis on Self Directed Support and Marc Graham who was with us for 3 months. Laura Bisset from Abertay

University was with us for 6 months, 4 hours per week, through the Community Links programme within the University. Catherine Carey from the Food, Nutrition and

Health degree course at Abertay introduced an important health element to the Growing Up service, with young people learning to cook and Catherine creating a

young person’s Cookery Book. We also provided a placement for Stirling University and the Social Work degree course, with Rebecca McKinnon joining us for 3 months.

International visitors also played a part. Maria Florea from Romania who volunteered with us for 12 months, 2/3 days per week, supporting Growing Up, playschemes and

the VIP group. Maria is also a talented musician and ambassador for disabled children in Romania through a charity called Carpathian Aid. While Romania may be a long

way from Scotland it’s not as far as Shanghai in China where Ye Lin lives and teaches disabled children. Ye joined us for 12 days through the Council of International

Fellowship programme. As part of his visit we arranged for Ye to visit 20 local services supporting children with disability which he found helpful and informative.

As part of saying goodbye, we treated Ye to a range of Scottish delicacies including Irn Bru and stovies! The menu for our goodbye event (which included Ye’s slide show

from China and the special school where he works) was prepared by our LifeSkills

team Nicki Mathew and Debbie Long who joined us during the year, providing an evidence based prevention programme for children aged 8-14 yrs.

In all, these 12 months saw opportunities and challenges, not least a reduction in

funding which we had to manage and is also still of concern. The demand for the range of services we provide is increasing, while our resources would seem to be

decreasing. That said, we look forward to the year ahead with optimism and hope to

continue to provide services that families will benefit from and children will enjoy, as we have sought to do since 1985, when the Family Support Team was first established.

Introduction By Dave Anderson, Children’s Services Manager

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The Nethybridge Outdoor Centre provided a familiar venue for our annual residential

holiday, made possible by the Scottish Government’s Better Breaks Fund and held over 4 days, 24 to 27 May, with 9 young people taking part, and 8 accompanying

helpers. What were the highlights for me?

Watching the young people try something new in the blindfold rope walk, admiring Katie-Marie scale the

climbing wall through sheer will power and determination, witnessing our volunteer Carol go on

the Landmark Rollercoaster for the 400th time and still be willing to go again because a young person

asked her to and watching (not taking part!) the paddling at Loch Morlich (-10°) being witness to a

holiday romance – no names mentioned and saying goodbye to Big Brian, the Nethybridge Cook moving

on after many years of service.

Brian is of course a Nethybridge hero rescuing a member

of our team some years ago from despair when the person in question (no names mentioned George) was appalled to

see the tea time menu contained nothing he liked. Brian saved the day with a giant omelette! Another highlight

before leaving Dundee was going on a slight detour to collect a favourite teddy bear, sadly left behind and being

asked 10 minutes later, around about Inchture, “Are we there yet”!

For the majority of our young people this was their first time

away from home and a step towards future independence and for many their first experience of sharing with other young

people. Overall the weekend proved a real success and we look forward to going again in October then March next year.

Many thanks to all our helpers for taking part and to the

young people for being willing to try something new.

Nethybridge Weekend – 24-27 May 2013 By Dave Anderson, Children’s Services Manager

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It’s hard to imagine that 12 months have passed since we

launched our new employment skills in horticulture service -

Growing Up with the arrival of our first staff member, John Davidson

our Development Worker.

Growing Up is a partnership between the Big Lottery – Life

Transitions Fund and Barnardo’s Scotland which aims to provide

employment skills training in horticulture and gardening to

young people with learning disabilities in the age range 18-25 yrs. The service is

funded for 5 years and employs 3 staff members: Paul Mills, Gardener/Instructor; Jean Robinson, Support Worker and John, with project volunteers playing an

important supporting role.

In the first year we received 19 referrals and now have 11 young people actively involved (9 young men and 2 young

women), who attend part time placements 1-2 days per week, for a 12 month period. The ultimate aim is for our

young people to move on to supported placements in gardening, but if this is not possible, to learn gardening

skills providing them with a life long hobby, improving their quality of life and perhaps that of their family, friends and

neighbours in maintaining gardens.

Our outcomes for young people are really simple – to learn gardening skills, to feel

happier and healthier and more included in the world we live in.

Horticultural therapy has a key role to play in this.

Our overarching family support service

which has been in the city since 1985 has prospered through the good will of

the people of Dundee. Their kindness and compassion has never been more

evident in helping us establish Growing Up since day one! We now

have 2 allotments, an effective partnership with Menzieshill Parish

Church and Capability Scotland.

“I have learned a lot: wood carving,

weeding, putting in plants, turfing,

slabbing, personal challenges and

going out doing jobs.”

Young Person

Growing Up – One Year On! – August 2012 to July 2013 By Dave Anderson, Children’s Services Manager

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Some highlights from the past 12 months:

Our official launch in February with Jim McColl of the BBC Beech grove Garden;

Jenny Marra MSP welcoming GU in the Scottish

Parliament;

Our first Food, Nutrition and Health student from Abertay,

who not only produced a recipe book, but also helped our young people learn to cook;

The recent Royal Bank of Scotland’s Team Challenges in

tidying up our second allotment;

And one of our young people learning to tie his shoe laces after 23 years.

Indeed this last achievement is at the heart of Growing

Up and the various quotes included sums up the

difference the service makes to the lives of young people.

For the next 12 months we hope to increase our numbers to 12 young people taking

part, welcome back some of our young people from this year (as advanced trainee mentors helping other young people learn), start to make links with external

placement providers and raise the profile in seeking to find more volunteers - in all, an exciting year ahead.

Growing Up – One Year On! (Continued) By Dave Anderson, Children’s Services Manager

“In the past J did not elaborate or give himself credit for anything he achieved

however he is becoming more able to talk about the work he is doing on the course and his achievements. I feel GU has given him: sense of purpose,

opportunity where he is learning new skills, building confidence and meeting new

friends.” Parent

“It’s good – thumbs up

GU, means everything to me – I love

gardening – great!” Young Person

“I feel a lot

happier being in GU – a lot better.”

Young Person

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The Saturday morning riding group ran for 13

weeks. All the children and young people who

came along this year had some previous

experience of riding at the Brae, either through

our group or Kingspark School. This meant we

were able to help these young riders build on

their earlier skills and make further progress in their riding. New challenges awaited, like steering the horses along increasingly tight paths (marked by poles on the

ground), and the physical effort to stand in the stirrups when riding across poles. I was

impressed to see the lessons from one week remembered to the next, demonstrating real learning. The riders who progressed to riding without a leading rein took

immense pride in this independence. Trotting time was as popular as ever, and the competitive spirit came out in some of the fun games on offer!

Feedback from riders and their parents

was consistently positive. Asked how

much their daughter or son had enjoyed and benefitted from the

riding, all parents rated “a great deal” for both, and all felt that confidence

had also developed as a result. Let’s hear some of the children and young

people’s comments too:

“I learnt steering and trotting; Tyson

(horse) is exciting!”

“I learnt how to steer and sitting straight and how to behave on a

horse”

“I learnt racing and running; riding

feels good and wobbly!”

>thumbs up< “Good!”

Please get in touch with Marina if you’d like your child/young person considered

for the riding group 2014 – it comes

highly recommended!

Young Person’s drawing of her ‘riding experience’

Saturday Riding Group at The Brae – July to October 2013 By Marina Sinclair, Project Worker

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This year we were fortunate enough to provide another wonderful 4 day weekend away in October to the outdoor centre in Nethybridge. This weekend away was made

possible by the ‘Better Break’ fund. Six families attended the weekend (9 adults & 12

children) accompanied by 3 staff members, one student and one volunteer.

Evaluations were completed by all participants

100% of children and young people said that the weekend

was GREAT! and also circled the smiley face with thumbs up 100% of adults and children would like to attend again

Participants felt it was a good learning experience individually and as a collective

100% of Parents were aware that the children and young people were actively involved in taking part

The families said their most enjoyable activities were the zip

wire, swimming, canoeing, archery and team challenges The children commented that their favourite meals were

when they had sausages, beans or ‘baked spuds’ but majority loved the ‘Pancakes!’

What was the best aspect of the holiday weekend?

“It was helpful in building confidence and a chance to make new friends”

“Learning how to work as a team and help one another” Parents

Quotes!

“It was a great break for the family to stay together” Parent “I learned how not to shoot the arrow onto the grass” Young Person

“I learned how to be brave” Young Person

Individual achievements

Gaining confidence to try new and exciting activities outwith their personal boundaries

Given the chance to be more independent (as much as possible) Opportunity to be more sociable around new people

Allowing themselves to take a step back and let the young people have the opportunity to take risks in a comfortable and safe environment

Being able to make new friends Being acknowledged for what they are ABLE to do

Group achievements

100% of families and young people were able to

socialise without feeling any prejudice. They were comfortable enough to support one another to have

the most positive experience. As a group they were able to value each other and encourage individualism

which created a more dynamic and unique holiday.

Nethybridge Family Weekend – 11-14 October 2013 By Marc Graham, CLD Student

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Commencing 5 November, we ran a 7 week group for

children aged 5 to 9 years, who had little or no access to other supports or services. Each week 9 to 10

children attended from 4:30pm until 6pm. The aim of the group was to promote play and participation with

peers while giving the children the choice to participate in planned activities, and providing a short break for

parents/carers.

Each session had a planned activity that the children could choose to participate in. Activities included

making a firework splatter paint display, an autumn leave collage, a handprint tree and Christmas

decorations and crackers. There was also the option of drawing their own picture or colouring in if they

preferred. The majority of children participated in the planned activities at some stage of the session.

Decorating the Christmas tree and icing cakes for snack on National Cake Day

certainly proved the most popular activities! The children also had the opportunity to

join in story time each week. Most of the children preferred active play but this provided

some quiet time for two or three of the children.

The children enjoyed spending time choosing their own activities including soft play, dressing up and

role play. Several of the children enjoyed spending time playing together creating their own

imaginative games. Initially, the children expected to have a volunteer linked with them on

a one to one basis as they would have on a playscheme day. However, the children quickly

adjusted and having a lower ratio of adults to children created an opportunity for increased

interaction between peers and more child-led

play. This in effect promoted their social development as there was ample evidence of sharing and turn taking between children.

The final session was a small party at Barnardo’s with games

and party food. At the end of the evening the children were awarded with a certificate for attending the group which they

were all very pleased to receive.

The Dundee Lions Club kindly donated tickets for the group children to attend the Singing Kettle Christmas show at the

Whitehall Theatre. The tickets were distributed to families who wanted to attend. The positive feedback we received

indicated that the show was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Tuesday Youth Group – November to December 2013 By Lyn Moffat, Playschemes & Activities Co-ordinator

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The VIP Group ran every Thursday for 6 weeks with between 7 and 9 children (8-10 years) attending each

week. The purpose of the group was to bring together a group of children who have a sibling with a disability and

provide an opportunity for them to make new friends, talk about their thoughts and feelings, learn more about

disability and most importantly have fun! We wanted to boost their self-esteem and help them feel good about

themselves and the role they play within their family.

Each week, the group took part in focussed activities, snack time, lots of games and free play. The feedback

we received from the children indicated that they really enjoyed the group, especially making new friends and

free time, where after planned activities the children

chose soft play, playing pool or air hockey, computer games or spending time in the play room. At the end

of each session we gathered the children’s views through a comment sheet. Here is a selection of what

some children/young people commented:

The best thing at the group today was …?

Playing

Art Soft Play

Air hockey

Playing games

Remembering the place Toy car

Snooker

Today the group would have been better if?

We had more food More playtime (a recurring comment)

We played Ping Pong

We played more games Longer every week

The group did not have to finish

We had an extended session for week 3 as it was a school in-

service day. This provided an opportunity to give the children more time to play and choose their own activity (something

the children had requested on the feedback sheets). At the

final session the children were awarded with a VIP certificate for all their hard work and participation.

The main aim of this group was for the children to have fun,

form friendships and gain confidence in a group while having the opportunity to share experiences of living with someone

with special needs/disability – all of which was evidently achieved and is strongly supported in the children and

parents evaluations.

VIP (Siblings) Group – January to March 2014 By Lyn Moffat, Playscheme & Activities Co-ordinator

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Hours Provided Through Playschemes 2013/2014

Children/Young People Receiving a Service 74

Easter

Activity Days

sessions 89

hours per session 5

total hours 445

Out & About

sessions 1 1

hours per session 5 2.5

total hours 7.5

Total Hours Provided 452.5


Summer

Activity Days

sessions 530

hours per session 5

total hours 2,650

Out & About

sessions 5 6

hours per session 5 2.5

total hours 40

Total Hours Provided 2,690


October

Activity Days

sessions 88

hours per session 5

total hours 440

Out & About

sessions 1

hours per session 5

total hours 5

Total Hours Provided 445


Dec/Jan

Activity Days

sessions 17

hours per session 4

total hours 68

Out & About

sessions 0

hours per session 0

total hours 0

Total Hours Provided 68

Total Activity Day Hours for the Year 3,603

Total Out & About Hours for the Year 52.5

Total Hours Provided for the Year 3,655.5

Playschemes – April 2013 to January 2014 By Angy Davidson, Project Secretary

A Big Thank You To All

Our Volunteers

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Comments from Parents of Playschemes

It gives me room to breathe and also to do nice things with her younger brother.

It gives Gran time to go out and get messages done etc. Some organisations are not so good with time but with Barnardo’s you are

guaranteed 10am to 3pm. M will be away having fun and we can get stuff done and are not confined to the house.

He gets to mix with children his own age and he gets to go places (e.g. bowling, swimming) that we can’t always go as a family because we have another autistic

son. Mixing with his peers as at school he is not in a class with the same age group.

It can be hard to take him some places because of his autism so we know with Barnardo’s he is getting to go places and try new things.

It improves his social skills. He gets to meet other people and spend time away

from the family. She benefits from the interaction with other people and because in the M-Power

Group they choose what they do, it has helped with her independence and decision making skills.

At the end of each activity day we asked the children and young people:

What the best thing today was?

Playing in the park Swimming

Going to the party and getting my certificate

Getting my nails painted

Bowling at Noah’s Ark Going to the cinema

Getting conkers at the park Playing at the Fun Factory

Learning to play the drums Drawing pictures

Sports Playing in the paddling pool

The animals (snake, guinea pig) Playing on go-karts (Cairnie Maze)

Building sandcastles at the beach

Art workshop at museum The Fire Station visit

Tractor and train rides at Craigtoun Jigsaws

Donkeys at the animal sanctuary Pushing buttons at Sensations

What would have made the day better?

If I had more sandwiches

If I never got stung by a wasp If we had more time

If we played golf

Playschemes – April 2013 to January 2014 (Continued)

By Angy Davidson, Project Secretary

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The Growing Up Service Awards Evening

Hosted by Dave Anderson, Children’s Services Manager Thursday 21 November 2013

Back: Daniel Mitchell, Ryan Adam, Duncan Mitchell, Kyle Mitchell, Michael Cook, Ravi Sangeelee, Christopher Tolmie, Usmaan Tahir

Middle: Kristofer Stevenson, Kevin Barbour, Cheryl Reilly, Amanda Cree, Darren Smith,

Jamie Murray, Kieron Larkin, Aaron McLaren, Robert Barclay Front: Colin Stirling, Margaret Teale, Jim McColl – Guest Speakers

John Davidson, Barnardo’s Development Worker

For more information contact:

Barnardo’s Family Support Team 14 Dudhope Street

Dundee DD1 1JU

Tel: 01382 224924

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.barnardos.org.uk/familysupportdundee

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.barnardos.org.uk/familysupportdundee

barnardo’s · we hope you enjoy reading our short report which summarises ... was succeeded by...

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