Quest Autumn 2021

The power of caring, and how you help

If Jenny Penny’s happy,

we’re happyshe’s so important.

Page 10-13

Autumn 2021

Children’s Fund fun • Page 4 Youth homeless services find a recipe for success • Page 8 Supporting stars walk for mental health • Page 14

Fast Forward> Good news • Innovation • New projects

Celebrating 150 years This November sees 150 years since William Quarrier opened the first of his homes for orphaned and destitute children living in Glasgow.

The following year, he wrote to the Glasgow Herald to ask for support for a fundraising effort to build a village in the countryside where disadvantaged children could live and be cared for. People across the country were inspired to send in donations, and building started on what was to become Quarriers Village.

Supporters are so vital to our work, and in the last issue of Quest, we asked you for your messages to mark 150 years. Thank you to everyone who replied. We loved reading your personal accounts of connections with the organisation, and many people told us how much they believe in the importance of social care in Scotland.

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So many would be in real difficulty without your help.

The work you do is vital not just for the people you help, but for everyone.

Many people wanted to acknowledge the different kinds of support we now provide.

The breadth and range of the work that Quarriers now does is inspiring.

Supporting you allows me to be involved, reaching out a helping hand to those who need it.

We received one message more than any other.:

Keep up the good work.

With your help we aim to do exactly that, and why we’re delighted to celebrate 150 years. In this issue of Quest, we’re celebrating everything we do today, and looking forward to new developments for the future.

Thank you for being with us every step of the way.

Corporate supporter WeeBox - gifting Scottish treats Support from Scottish companies is as important today as it was when Quarriers was founded. A big thank you goes to new corporate partner WeeBox www.weebox.co.uk, a curated subscription service for gifts you can only find in Scotland. Last year, they kindly donated prizes to our Noel Lunch auction, and we are delighted they will be developing that support this year.

Founder Amy McCusker said “Quarriers is such an important Scottish charity helping those who need it at this incredibly challenging time, and we have been touched by the positive difference they make to so many lives.”

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Quest Autumn 2021 • Page 3

Still there for children, with your help In May, we asked you to support Quarriers Children’s Fund and bring back smiles for children who were deeply affected by the pressures of the pandemic.

We are so grateful to everyone who sent in a donation and hope that all these smiles show just how important you are. Here are just some of the things you made possible:

Day trips for children supported at Quarriers school-based mental health services

“This is thye best da ever!”

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A day out in Edinburgh with a Harry Potter theme!

Summer fun for families Children whose parents are supported by our youth homelessness services went to the zoo, the aquarium and soft play.

Fraser gets a hole in, erm, 12!

We went to the zoo for the day. Mum was so nervous about getting the train with the two children, two prams and all their stuff, but we did it! It was great for the children, and it helped mum’s confidence.

Quarriers Support Worker

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Children whose mum or dad has an acquired brain injury benefitted from family days out to the beach, the zoo, cinema and trampolining.

k n a h T ou! y Quest Autumn 2021 • Page 5

Promise #KeepthePromise

We will #KeepthePromise

KeepthePromise #Keepth-

Still there for children in care

Promise #KeepthePromise

KeepthePromise #Keepth-

Promise #KeepthePromise

KeepthePromise #Keepth-

Promise #KeepthePromise

31 Quarriers services support over 1,000 children and KeepthePromise #Keepth-

young people across Scotland. Many of those children have Promise #KeepthePromise experience of today’s care system.

KeepthePromise #Keepth-

Quarriers is proud to commit to The Promise – Scotland’s Promise #KeepthePromise

new plan to care for children and families so that each and KeepthePromise #Keepth-

every child can thrive.

Promise #KeepthePromise

KeepthePromise #Keepth-

Promise #KeepthePromise At the heart of The Promise are KeepthePromise #Keepthfive big principles. Put simply, they are: Promise #KeepthePromise

KeepthePromise #Keepth• Listening to children and Promise #KeepthePromise young people, involving them in decision-making KeepthePromise #Keepthabout their care.

Promise #KeepthePromise

• Acknowledging how KeepthePromise #Keepthimportant families are for Promise #KeepthePromise children and working to KeepthePromise #Keepthkeep ties with family when Promise #KeepthePromise possible.

KeepthePromise #Keepth• Providing children who

Promise #KeepthePromise can’t stay with family with a loving home, with their KeepthePromise #Keepthsiblings, for as long as it’s Promise #KeepthePromise needed.

KeepthePromise #Keepth• Helping children develop Promise #KeepthePromise caring relationships with KeepthePromise #Keepthpeople involved in their Promise #KeepthePromise care and supporting workers to develop caring KeepthePromise #Keepthrelationships with children.

Promise #KeepthePromise

• Making sure the systems, KeepthePromise #Keepthand the funding, are in Promise #KeepthePromise place to make this possible.

KeepthePromise #Keepth-

Page 6 • Quest Autumn 2021 Promise #KeepthePromise

KeepthePromise #Keepth-

Our Children and Families Services already do lots of great work – we listen to children and young people, advocate for them, and support their families.

But there is more we can do. We are pledging to #KeepthePromise, to work together to develop our services along with the children and young people we support, putting them right at the centre, to listen and learn, to be open and honest, and to be at their side, should they want us there, to navigate the challenges that life presents.

Your support is part of it all.

We know that many supporters have some personal or family experience of care, and no matter what your experience, we hope you will join us in our pledge to #KeepthePromise.

UPDATE

Tails wagging at RHIS

Quarriers Renfrewshire Head Injury Service is delighted to have a new member of the team - Lomond the collie-cross! He’s going to be joining existing team member (Lomond’s owner) Viola and spending time with people we support as a therapy dog.

In lockdown, I could see how difficult it was for people we support to feel up to getting out for a walk, but I know how important getting out can be for mental and physical wellbeing, especially after a brain injury. The plan is to include a walk with Lomond as part of the support we offer. He’s so good with people. I hope Lomond will cheer people up, help their confidence, and get them back out and about.

Did somebody say “walk”?

Viola lomond

We hope Lomond can help to get everyone’s tails wagging!

It’s great news for David, who spoke in the last issue of Quest about his recovery from a brain injury. He hopes to get a dog of his own and will no doubt be one of the first to have Lomond out for a walk.

He and Viola have also recorded a podcast, Voices of the Brain, about his experiences. It’s the first time David has told his own story in his own words.

Listen at www.quarriers.org.uk/voices-of-the-brain Page 7 • Quest Autumn 2021

Quest Autumn 2021 • Page 7

There for young people We’re so proud to share just one brilliant way staff in our youth homelessness services have been thinking outside of the box to do what they do best – understanding the experience of vulnerable young people and supporting them in ways that are tailored to their needs.

Looking after health Quarriers Supported Youth Housing Service works with young people aged 16-25 in North Glasgow who are registered homeless, have been homeless, or are at risk of becoming homeless. Many have experience of the care system, have left difficult family situations, or been asked to leave wherever they were living.

But that doesn’t mean they are street-sleeping or accommodated in a hostel. Most live in a flat, which is a tenancy from the local authority (who has a level of duty of care for them until they are 26). They are often living independently, alone, for the first time. As well as emotional support, they need practical help with simple things – how to keep a house, look after themselves and stay safe and healthy.

Many of the young people are extremely isolated – it’s common for them to have little or no contact with family, and lockdown only heightened that isolation. So the team planned, organised and delivered food hampers to the young people, with recipes to follow to make nutritious meals.

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Picking up some ingredients

Then they had the brilliant idea of organising a cook-along. New team member Adam used his skills from his previous career as a chef to film a step-by step video that went out live to the young people who had the recipe boxes so they could all cook-along together.

While the cook-along gave everyone a sense of being together during an isolating time, it also had the potential for other positive effects.

Adam says “Learning to cook is a great thing to do. As well as helping young people eat healthily it’s a good way to help people feel empowered – it’s great to be able to cook yourself a nice meal.

“When I was a chef, we often provided work placements for vulnerable young people on employability

What the young people said I love the video link and would like a video for every recipe.

Thanks for the lentil soup recipe and ingredients, it is my favourite.

I am blown away with what we are doing and over the moon with the ingredients and recipes.

I made the pizza, it was lovely and it was so easy to make. I have never cooked something from scratch before.

schemes, so when I came to work at Quarriers, I understood the issues the young people I support face.

“Having cooking skills can be useful in life. It can get you work anywhere, with a decent wage. That wasn’t why we did the cook-along but if young people get the cooking bug, it can only be a good thing.”

The whole thing was a huge success, with young people reporting real pride in their culinary skills.

Adam gives some top tips for chopping onions Page 9 • Quest Autumn 2021

Watch Adam’s cook-along at https://youtu.be/Sj99ebKLoaU Quest Autumn 2021 • Page 9

There for the future Part of William Quarrier’s legacy was leaving support for future generations. Jennifer Mitchell is one person whose quality of life depends on Quarriers support now and in the future. Jennifer’s mum Donna and papa Norrie talk about the difference it makes.

“When Jennifer was born I knew something was different quickly,” says Jennifer’s mum Donna. “She had no muscle strength and would always lie on one side. She was diagnosed with the common catch-all diagnosis of global development delay, and then autism spectrum disorder.”

The whole family, including her dad Neil, had to come to terms with Jennifer’s needs. But they took it in their stride, and though Donna and Neil divorced when she was a toddler, Jennifer lived with her mum until a crisis hit when Jennifer was 12 Page 10 • Quest Autumn 2021

and Donna was diagnosed with cancer. They needed somewhere safe and stable for Jennifer to live and found a Quarriers residential service for children.

Donna says “You never know what you’re going to do until difficult times knock on your door. I never knew anything about Quarriers but I had to put Jennifer into residential care. I had no choice. I was diagnosed with cancer and by then I was a single parent. I had a lump in my throat letting her go but it was the making of her.”

I’ve had a special connection with Jennifer from day one...

She’s my granddaughter, and I’m proud of her.

Norrie, Jennifer’s papa Jennifer is now 23 and lives in a shared flat at Quarriers Village Supported Living service, with support from the Quarriers team around her. Every Saturday sees visits from her dad and a whole host of extended family. Today, Donna still lives with cancer, though it is managed. Despite that, she is a positive person – a trait she clearly gets from her dad, Norrie – who has unending enthusiasm for understanding the granddaughter who he calls “Jenny Penny”.

“I’ve had a special connection with Jennifer from day one,” says Norrie.

“When Jenny was first diagnosed, I went to every appointment with Donna, but I’ve never felt sad about her differences. She’s my granddaughter, and I’m proud of her.

She’s a great kid.”

house for the night, and then visits her papa’s for a lunch every Friday.

She’s so close to her papa she even uses his name to tell everyone how she’s feeling. Donna explains: “Jennifer often talks in the third person, and the person she most often uses to convey her emotions is Papa – so when she moved house, she would say ‘Papa’s got a new house’ – which actually meant Jennifer had a new house.”

Of course, the past 18 months have had added pressures, not least because Jennifer’s move from a children’s service to an adult service was just under way as the pandemic struck. That transition can be difficult at any time, and helping Jennifer feel safe and secure in that move, as well as coping with the lockdown, presented more challenges to the Quarriers team. But they worked to support Jennifer to remain in contact with her dad when restrictions allowed by way of outdoor visits. Although Donna’s health meant she had to shield, she

Jenny’s bond with her papa is boosted by a shared love of singing (Elvis), having a wee dance (Grand Old Duke of York) and calling each other “dumpling”.

Every Thursday throughout the 11 years she has been supported by Quarriers, Jennifer visits her mum’s

Norrie gets in on the action as Jennifer dances to Grand Old Duke of York.

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and Jennifer were able to keep up their Thursday visits, but for six months Norrie and Jenny Penny missed their Friday lunches of a cheese sandwich and a Kit Kat. Happily, things are back to the old routine, and Jennifer’s move to her own flat has been great for her.

Donna says “Jennifer’s mental health is the most stable it’s been in a long time. There’s no kicking or nipping any more. She just seems really happy.

She’s always laughing and giggling.

“One day one of the Quarriers team said to me ‘Jennifer’s so clever.’

Sometimes you just get so used to your own child you don’t notice their different bits of their personality. It was so nice to hear someone say that of Jennifer.

“The staff at Quarriers push Jennifer in a way I might not have. She’s come on so much since she’s been supported at Quarriers.”

Planning for the future is a significant matter when you have a child with

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Jennifer is starting the best part of her journey now.

Donna, Jennifer’s mum complex needs in the family. For grandparents like Norrie, knowing their loved one will be settled and secure is important. He says “Jenny Penny loves her papa, and she’s got a special place in my heart, I think because she depends on people so much.”

Donna also knows how important security will be to her child’s future.

She says “I’ve had cancer now for 10 years. It’s managed, but my sister had it and was taken from us in two years.

I’m so lucky I’ve had the time I’ve had but there’s no way of knowing what’s going to happen with my health.

My heart is so full of joy that I lived to see Jennifer settled.”

Leaving your gift for the future No one knows what the future will bring, and if there is one thing this past couple of years has taught us all, it is just how important connection, care and support can be when crisis strikes.

You can play a part in the Quarriers story and help us be there for future generations by leaving a gift in your will.

Want to find out more?

Email fundraising@quarriers.org.uk, phone 01505 690875, or fill in the form enclosed with your copy of Quest, and we will be in touch.

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Quest Autumn 2021 • Page 13

Supporting Stars and the difference they make This issue our Supporting Star award goes to a group of 65 midwives from the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow.

They’re stars because they each walked 100 miles in the month of April and raised a staggering £8,800.

The team chose to fundraise for Quarriers Maternal Mental Wellbeing 6,500 miles walked - that’s the Service. Jennifer equivalent of walking to Australia!

Johansson was the brains behind it all and says “We see so many patients who experience issues with mental health before and after having their baby. We know that new mums experiencing post-natal depression often don’t get the help they need, and it was important to us to raise money for something we really believe in.”

The money raised will provide over 100 hours of specialist counselling from our partner provider Bluebell for mums who may be experiencing poor mental health.

Did you know you can fundraise for a specific Quarriers service?

We have over 100 services across Scotland, and we provide support in many different ways.

You can choose something that matters to you, or get in touch so we can help you find the area of our work that you would like to champion.

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Ana spoke about the help she has had from the service.

In June, the service put on a special event for a small group of the midwives. They heard from Depute Manager Rhonda McKinney, who explained “The mental health issues women experience in the early days of their baby’s lives can be serious.

In our group sessions we make sure we talk about difficult issues, like suicide and self-harm, as soon as we can. We know that mums can have some of those feelings and being able to speak about them in a caring environment without any judgement helps. The counselling service is a vital part of that support, and we are so grateful for this funding.”

There was not a dry eye in the house. Jennifer said “Today has given us a real insight to the support offered here. To see where the money is going and hear people’s stories has been emotional. It’s made a big difference.”

Two mums, Donna and Ana, spoke about their experience of support from the service. To read more, visit www.quarriers.org.uk/midwives Ana spoke about the impact of the counselling service for her. She says “When I had my baby, I had lots of emotions and I felt very isolated.

Going to counselling was important for me – the counsellor listened, and I was able to talk about things that I hadn’t spoken about. There was no judgement, which made me feel that all the things I was experiencing weren’t bad, or my fault. It made me feel much more confident.”

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The service at Ruchazie were brilliant. When they said they would call me for a chat, they did. I quickly felt that I could trust them.

Ana Quest Autumn 2021 • Page 15

Quarriers is a registered Scottish Charity – No. SC001960. Quarriers Head Office, Quarriers Village, Bridge of Weir, PA11 3SX. Tel: 01505 612224/616000