Quest Autumn 2019

Autumn Update 2019

Quest

Thanks to you, we’re transforming lives

How your support makes summer special.

Page 6

New mums’ group update Page 3

Flourishing with fostering Page 4

Christmas is coming Page 10

Quest Autumn 2019

Hello and update

The first 23 people to sign up to raise money for Quarrie rs at any Kiltwalk in 2020 will be en tered into a draw to win a special p rize.

It’s Kiltwalk mania!

In the past six months, a huge team of Quarriers staff, people we support and wonderful donors have put their best foot forward and walked the Kiltwalk in Glasgow, Edinburgh or Aberdeen in aid of Quarriers.

And we absolutely loved it!

We are shouting loud and proud about our achievements.

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66 people walked.

They walked 1,032 miles in total –

• that’s one tenth of the diameter of the earth!

• We estimate nearly two

and half million steps were taken.

• That’s around a quarter of a million calories expended.

• An unbelievable £15,727 was raised,

including the 40% top up for every Kiltwalker from the Hunter Foundation.

With distances around 6, 15, and 23 miles, the Kiltwalk offers a wonderful challenge and a fantastic experience.

So in that post-Christmas slump when you’re thinking about getting fit and healthy and setting yourself a challenge in the new year, please consider the Kiltwalk for Quarriers.

Get in touch with Quarriers Fundraising Team on 01505 616132 or fundraising@ quarriers.org.uk for more information.

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We all did it at our own pace, had great fun and a laugh together. I would definitely do it again.

- Andy

Quest Autumn 2019

Update:

Love, support and trust make it work S

ince we wrote about Tracy, Alison and the service for new mums at Quarriers Family Centre in the last issue of Quest, a research team from Stirling University* has evaluated the service.

We’re delighted to say the research found that Quarriers is seen as filling a gap in service provision that community mental health teams are not able to offer. The research also found that links with the wider family centre meant women were able to access centre activities beyond 18 months after birth. This was found to be important since they had grown familiar with the centre, staff and other people we support, and they recognised the need for continuing support.

It was great being asked for our feedback. The researchers really listened to our answers and were open to our ideas.

- Claire-Ann The variety of perinatal support options, such as counselling, one-to-one support and group work, was found to be beneficial. Quarriers staff were found to be attentive, patient and knowledgeable as they recognised and supported the mums’ personal journeys and tailored support to meet their individual needs.

There are lots of positive things to build on, and we are excited to see how the service develops.

You can read more about the service in the last issue of Quest here www. quarriers.org. uk/questspring

The research process itself has proved to be a wonderful project for the women attending the group, who formed a study advisory group and were involved in devising the research questions.

The front cover of the research report was designed by the group. *The research was funded by Comic Relief and the UK Government Tampon Tax.

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Quest Autumn 2019

Flourishing with fostering Quarriers’ unique and specialised fostering service offers permanent placements to children with disabilities and complex needs, and is looking for foster carers.

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Cumbernauld foster family is flourishing with the help of Quarriers through its unique, specialised fostering service for children with complex needs and disabilities.

Four years ago, Marc and Linzie Connor opened their home to Calum* and now they say “We couldn’t imagine life without him.”

Calum, now 14, was just 10 when he came to live with Marc and Linzie after first being introduced to them while he was at school. The decision to foster a child with complex needs took careful thought and consideration, and with support from Quarriers, Calum has flourished in the Connors’ care.

Linzie says “Although Calum is non-verbal, you know exactly what he is telling you.

He’s a fantastic boy with a great sense of humour.”

After Calum was placed with the Connors, Linzie gave up work to concentrate on fostering full-time. Two years later, Marc also gave up work to be a full-time carer alongside his wife. They receive a carers’ fee and an allowance, but the decision was not financial and was about providing a safe, nurturing and loving home.

Linzie and Marc are keen to point out that they are not mum and dad to Calum. “Calum has a mum and dad and he sees them regularly,” says Linzie. However, he is very 4

much part of the Connor family and has a great rapport with Linzie’s 90-year-old dad.

Fostering has changed Marc and Linzie too, giving them more confidence. They now offer advice and a listening ear to prospective foster carers through Quarriers’ Skills to Fostering classes. Linzie says “When you are thinking about this, you have nothing to base your expectations on.

The classes are great, because prospective fosterers are able to talk to someone who is already doing it, and I think that helps.”

We couldn’t imagine life without him.

- Linzie Fostering brings challenges and the Connors rely on the support offered by Quarriers specialist staff as well as a network of like-minded carers. While Calum lives with them on a permanent basis, he enjoys short breaks at Quarriers Countryview Service to help increase his independence and allow him to enjoy new experiences.

Quarriers provides training in areas like child protection and emergency first aid skills.

Carers also receive an individualised training package based around the needs of the child they are looking after, and further support is provided by a supervising Social Worker.

Quest Autumn 2019

What makes fostering with Quarriers different is offering permanent placements to children with disabilities and additional needs.

Operating a Shared Lives Scheme further allows foster carers to continue to care for the children as they transfer to Adult Services.

There are children out there who need a placement.

- Rachel Sawyer, Project Manager

Quarriers Fostering Project Manager Rachel Sawyer says “We offer lots of support including an individualised training package based around the needs of the child. Further support is provided by a Supervising Social Worker. So if it’s something you even have the smallest interest in, there’s no harm in giving us a call for a chat.”

Could you be amazing like Marc and Linzie and foster a child?

Anyone considering fostering a child or young person with complex needs should call Rachel Sawyer (Service Manager) or Louise Garrett (Senior Supervising Social Worker) on 0141 954 10 10 or email rachel.sawyer@quarriers.org.uk or louise.garrett@quarriers.org.uk *Name has been changed.

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Quest Autumn 2019

One Summer Day Quarriers Kinship Care Service took a group of eight children out for a day of fun summer activities.

This was all made possible by donations to our Summer Days Appeal.

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here’s no sound like children having fun, and there are lots of joyful sounds coming from a small clearing surrounded by sun-dappled trees in a community woodland right in the heart of urban Glasgow.

Three Quarriers staff members have brought the children on this special day out where the team at community enterprise 6

Urban Roots will treat them to a good old-fashioned day of fun in nature. All the children live with grandparents or other family members in kinship care because of issues affecting parental care, like bereavement, imprisonment, mental health or addiction issues, or neglect.

But today, they’re here to have fun.

Quest Autumn 2019

The Urban Roots team start with some introductions, but one young girl sits with her hood up, arms crossed, legs crossed, saying “I don’t want to do it.” The Quarriers staff members are gentle with her, make sure she’s ok, and let her know that’s her choice. And then the activities start.

it’s tricky. Making a spark is difficult enough, but getting your spark to make the magical jump onto the cotton wool is a real challenge.

Suddenly each face is full of intense concentration. Then one wee boy screams ‘I’ve done it’ and soon the rest follow.

First up is bug hunting and the children scamper out through the wood with oldfashioned nets and Tupperware boxes to put their bugs in. Five minutes later, the girl who didn’t want to take part has picked up a net and joined one of the workers exploring a small clump of bushes. Suddenly she has a huge smile on her face and is telling everyone that she’s found a ladybird without spots!

I can do it every time now, look!

- Daly

And this is the way the whole day goes, as the children come out of themselves more and more.

I found a mushrooooooom!

- Brooklyn

When the Urban Roots team bring out flint sets and show the children how to first make a spark and then light some cotton wool as they set up the campfire, you can feel the sense of excitement from the children. But

Support Worker Fiona says “Doing something just a bit different is important for children. It was great to see them running free and playing hide and seek in the woods. It’s calming being outside in nature and to do things like have marshmallows round the campfire – it’s a warm, loving experience and the whole day was very nurturing. And they were all filthy by the end so you could tell lots of fun had been had!”

These days can’t happen without the support of donors to our annual Summer Days Appeal. To everyone who made one summer day possible for a child this year, thank you.

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Quest Autumn 2019

Closing the Gap The Scottish Government wants all of Scotland’s children and young people to succeed and reach their full potential. It’s a goal that’s mirrored in Quarriers’ own mission statement, and we’re providing our expertise to the fight for brighter futures.

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n Scotland, there is a significant gap in academic achievement between children and young people living in deprived communities and those from the least deprived communities. In 2015, the Scottish Government announced that most schools in Scotland would receive Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) aimed at closing that poverty-related attainment gap. This funding can be spent at the discretion of the head teacher on any initiative that will support children who might be falling behind or not getting the same chances in education.

Quarriers now provides support in over 50 schools across five local authorities, and the focus is on children’s emotional wellbeing.

Our ethos is that children who are more emotionally robust are better able to learn.

The team includes support workers funded by schools PEF funding, like Mary Beattie.

Mary explains how she uses varied therapeutic methods including Lego therapy (yes, that’s a thing!) to help children get more out of life and school.

“Children are referred for different reasons but one way is by using SHANARRI wellbeing indicators. Along with the school, we assess how children are doing in these different areas when they first come to us, at a mid-point of our support and at the end.

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“Children have many worries around things happening at school and at home, including parental mental health, alcohol and drug issues and bereavement. I see children being overwhelmed by their worries.

“That can come out in different behaviours in class – breaking down and crying is common with children experiencing anxiety.

So is self-harm – one girl has scratched herself with a pencil repeatedly in class.

Hitting or shouting and struggling to get on with other children and make friends is a really common issue. You can understand how it can impact their ability to take part in class.

“I have a room in the school where children come and see me and it’s an hour a week that’s just for them. Every session is child-led and the child feels in control of the support they receive. When they come into my session, if they want to just lie with their head on the table, they can, and they have!

“My background is in community arts, so I do lots of arts projects. When children start coming to me they’re often very guarded, but doing a wee art project often means they relax a bit and very important and personal stories can come out then.

It also really helps their confidence to be making something they can be proud of.

Quest Autumn 2019

Mary with Scott, one of the young people she worked with this year. Scott is also the winner of our Christmas card competition!

“I’m also trained in Lego therapy. That works really well for children on the autistic spectrum. The children make Lego projects in teams with strict roles. It teaches turn taking, working together and sharing. You see it having a real impact on them in lots of ways, including making friends.

“The schools I am working in know these sessions benefit the kids. They see an improvement in behaviour, and as children grow in confidence they try more academically. I have teachers reporting amazing achievements from children.”

What is SHANARRI? Every child or young person should be: Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible, Included.

These eight SHANARRI indicators developed by the Scottish Government are an agreed definition of wellbeing so that parents, families and agencies can use SHANARRI to discuss how a child or young person is doing and if there is a need for support.

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Quest Autumn 2019

Christmas cards are winners T

his year, Quarriers’ Christmas card selection includes two exclusive cards designed especially for you by two very talented people.

At Quarriers, we believe in empowering the people we support so their wonderful talents and qualities have a chance to really shine, and our competition to design a Christmas card for 2019 has been a brilliant opportunity to do exactly that.

The true meaning of Christmas

by Carol Smith

Carol Smith was the winner of the adult category with her design The True Meaning of Christmas showing her creative talents once again after winning the Aberdeenshire Carers Support Service poetry competition with her poem Acceptance. The poem featured in the last issue of Quest, which you can read here. www.quarriers.org.uk/ questspring Carol is supported by Aberdeenshire Carer Support Service and said “I think the idea of a Quarriers Christmas card competition is fantastic, and of course, to win was a wonderful surprise. It is really valued that Quarriers involves carers in activities like art therapy, mindfulness and carers’ fun days which make all the difference to our wellbeing. I will be so excited to see my card in print and my friends have all said they are looking forward to buying and sending them.”

Eleven-year-old Scott won the children and young people category with his brilliant picture Christmas Eve. It’s full of wonderful details including a bird on a lamppost and a fantastic reindeer.

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Christmas Eve

by Scott

Quest Autumn 2019

People we support helped choose the winners

Scott with his Headteacher

Getting everyone involved The challenge: to design a Christmas card on the theme of Christmas Tree.

The entries: Anyone supported by any Quarriers service could enter.

More than 80 entries came from children, young people and adults supported in many services across the organisation.

Scott is supported by Mary Beattie through Quarriers Let’s Talk Service and was delighted to be presented with his prize and a special certificate at his school achievement assembly before he went to secondary school. Mary said “Scott’s face just lit up when I told him he’d won. I think this has had a huge impact on his self-belief, and at the award ceremony his head was up, he had a beaming smile. It was a great moment.”

The judging: Members of the Fundraising, Inclusion, Youth Homeless and Supported Living teams were involved in the judging process.

Photos: In Quarriers Village, people attending the Thursday club voted on the shortlist.

Now it’s over to you - don’t forget to order your Christmas cards!

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SANTA NEEDS

YOUR HELP!

We are looking for volunteers to help at our festive events: Christmas Fayre at Cargill Hall, Kilmacolm Saturday 16 November Festival of Choirs 1–24 December Email events@quarriers.org.uk or call 01505 616132 to find out more

www.quarriers.org.uk Quarriers is a registered charity No. SC001960