Love to share!

Inside the sector, Proactivist — By TFNadmin on 22/03/2012 10:45 pm

Barnardo’s Scotland launches a campaign to encourage more people to help local children on short breaks

What’s the campaign called?

Love to Share

What’s the point?

The UK’s leading children’s charity, Barnardo’s Scotland, needs more people to help offer short breaks and outings for disabled children in their local area. Short break carers provide opportunities for disabled children to enjoy themselves and make friends outside of their own families, whilst giving parents a much needed break from the demands of caring.

Why should we care?

There is a real need for more short break carers across the country. We believe short break care is vital in ensuring that disabled children, young people and their families are fully included in everyday society with full access to all social, educational and leisure facilities and services. Many parents with disabled children never get a break; depending on the disability it can mean non-stop, 24-hour care.

Who else cares?

The children’s charity is currently linked with 43 families across the country, but there are many more families waiting for support. Our carers find it a rewarding experience and enjoy the time they spend with the children and young people. They give children the chance to take part in activities that most non-disabled children take for granted… “It’s lovely to see the children really thrive from having the opportunity to get out and enjoy new experiences.”

Who are you targeting?

All kinds of people from across the country have become short break carers with the charity. Short break carers are local individuals or families who are available to look after disabled children and young people at weekends, midweek or for short holidays. Working closely with birth families, short break carers receive extensive training and support from their local Barnardo’s Scotland service. Through our Love to Share campaign we are targeting people living in Angus, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, or in and around Glasgow.

What would a better world look like?

At Barnardo’s Scotland we believe our support has the potential to enhance the lives of families with disabled children. We know the parents we support love their children deeply, but caring for a child with disabilities can put enormous strain on their health and family life. The support we offer benefits everyone involved, with adequate short break carers, parents and disabled children would have a more fulfilled and stress free life.

What can we do?

There are lots of ways you can help families with disabled children get the best out of life, you can become a short break carer, a befriender or a link carer. You can offer as much or as little time as you feel able. Family link/short break carers provide anything from a few hours, to overnight care; care at the weekends and during school holidays. Sessional support workers provide care from a few hours a month to several hours per week. Volunteers give two to four hours per week. We hope that when people hear about this opportunity many more people will say “I would love to share”. To find out more about short break care call 0845 894 9501 or visit www.barnardos.org.uk/fosteringandadoption

Tags: campaign, carers, children, disabled, TFN 677 - 23 March 2012