Quest Autumn 2020

The power of caring, and how you help

Emergency appeal update • Page 4

Autumn 2020

Delivering meals in Moray • Page 7 Val’s lockdown story • Page 10

Fast Forward> Good news • Innovation • New projects

An introduction from new Chief Executive Dr. Ronald Culley

Hello!

This issue of Quest is an update on everything we are doing to successfully provide excellent care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Across Scotland, Quarriers key workers are working tirelessly to maintain continuity of care for vulnerable people, children and families. Your support has had a huge impact on that mission.

We’re proud to keep you updated.

On the cover Katie lives in a Quarriers Supported Living Service. She was assisted by her key workers to communicate a message she wanted to send in the first weeks of lockdown.

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I took up my post as the new Chief Executive of Quarriers at the beginning of April.

By then, Scotland was in lockdown, so I started in a world of virtual communications and remote working. A highly coordinated operation was already underway – the organisation had taken an early decision to instigate emergency planning arrangements, and daily video conference meetings underpinned the effective management of the organisation. I spent the next few weeks supporting that work and getting to know my new colleagues within the organisation.

That has continued across the summer, but more recently I’ve been able to start visiting services, as the lockdown conditions imposed in response to the pandemic have been eased. Some of these services feature in this edition of Quest – for instance, our Family Resource Centre at Ruchazie. The kids are back in the nursery, enjoying being out in the garden playing – the mud kitchen is a favourite.

When I visited, I was asking Debbie, our service manager, about whether the families we support had experienced additional stresses during the lockdown period. She felt some had – but we were doing really great work linking them into services and providing

direct support. It was clear from our conversation just how highly valued our support is – one of the local parents had indicated how important the weekly call she gets from us is.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the difference.

Enjoying the garden

And that’s just one of the more than 100 services that we provide across Scotland – helping people to overcome the additional barriers in their lives. Of course, many of our services continued to operate as normal across the lockdown period – time and again, Quarriers staff went the extra mile to keep the people we support safe.

Across the lockdown period time and again, Quarriers staff went the extra mile.

And where we couldn’t provide services in the same way, we adapted – like our approach to supporting carers in Aberdeenshire and Moray, using new technologies and innovative ways of keeping in touch with people. Or our approach to supporting people with complex needs who might not have had the same level of access to family visits and community participation.

I feel really privileged to be a part of the Quarriers team and I’m delighted that we were able to continue our work right across the lockdown period.

In my view, your contribution as a supporter of the organisation has never been more important – and I Page 3 • Quest Autumn 2020

So much fun in Ruchazie! thank you for that. Charities across the country have been struggling because of COVID-19 and we’re no different.

But with your ongoing support, we’ll continue to make a real difference to the people we support.

Lifelines During lockdown, we sent out an emergency appeal asking for your help to meet the additional funding challenges of the crisis. We were overwhelmed by the response.

Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, we have been able fund emergency costs in staffing, recruitment and training, PPE and care packs.

Thank you to all the individuals, organisations and businesses who contributed.

Each and every donation provided someone with a lifeline.

We hope you enjoy reading these stories of the lifelines sent through your acts of kindness, with messages sent to our fundraising team by key workers who wanted to pass on their thanks to you.

Over

800 people were sent a lifeline thanks to you

Page 4 • Quest Autumn 2020

Fighting the trauma of separation As lockdown separated us from friends and family, we all dealt with it in our own way.

In Quarriers’ services supporting adults with complex needs, many of the people we support took really challenging changes in their stride, but others struggled to understand the social distancing measures. For them, the lack of contact with families and friends was painful and confusing, and key workers saw an increase in stress and distress in some of the adults they support.

Your donations provided tablets for adults in our supported living services, allowing them to see and hear loved ones via technology. The impact of this, both emotionally and physically, was incredibly positive. In fact, it was a lifeline!

Being there for young people Quarriers supports young people who may need mental health support, experience difficult home lives, or struggle to cope with the demands of school.

We work in a range of school and service-based settings.

For example, at our intandem service, volunteer mentors are matched with young people to create a connection with an adult they can depend on even if they face challenges at home.

Many families don’t have laptops, tablets or even working smartphones, or don’t have wi-fi or the data necessary for children to access learning online. Emergency donations funded basic digital tablets for young people supported by intandem who had no other means of keeping in touch with their mentors. Children and young people supported at school were provided with tablets in order to keep up with their studies.

Thank you sooooo much!

Elizabeth, Early Years Transition Worker Page 5 • Quest Autumn 2020

My mentor is my guardian angel.

Young person

Thank you. The tablets will be a big help to pupils accessing learning at home.

Chloe, Project Assistant

Keeping support groups going Epilepsy can be a hugely isolating condition, and our Epilepsy Fieldwork Service runs regular support groups across Aberdeenshire, Moray and Fife where people gain an enormous amount of acceptance and friendship from meeting up with other people in a similar situation.

Many attendees depend on their support group for company and connection, so when groups couldn’t meet in person, emergency donations made it possible for people to chat online to their support group.

I go to the library a lot and that’s where I access a computer, so I had no way to connect to the epilepsy support group when it went online.

I’ve no family helping out, but I’ve been attending the support group for eight years. There’s nothing we can’t speak about with each other.

If I didn’t have the tablet, I would have been and would still be completely isolated.

John

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Access to mental health help for young people affected by homelessness Sadly, many of the young men and women affected by homelessness who are supported by Quarriers have already experienced crisis and trauma.

They may have little help or connection from family, and adding the anxiety and isolation of the crisis on top of that meant the mental health and emotional safety of these young people was a real concern.

Many of the young people we support have a simple phone for phone calls only. But emergency donations provided young people with smartphones and the data required to use them, making it possible for Quarriers staff to speak to them and be able to actually see how they were. For some, accessing specialised mental health support became a priority. As local mental health teams were offering additional support and counselling via digital platforms, the smartphones made that vital help accessible.

A real community café In Elgin, two Quarriers services pulled together with the community to deliver over 6000 meals to vulnerable people during the COVID-19 crisis.

The Bow Café is run by Quarriers Arrows Service, which supports people affected by drug and alcohol use. The café had only been open for a matter of months and the team were just finding their feet - working with local food charities and offering meals on a voluntary donation basis for anyone who wanted to drop in - when the pandemic struck. That might have closed everything down, but The Bow team felt they still had a vital part to play and quickly set to work, making and delivering meals to people who needed that support in the community.

This then developed into partnership working with Moray Council to deliver meals across the whole region. With support from local volunteers it has become a true community effort, led

by Quarriers teams.

Meanwhile, Quarriers Carer Support Service for Moray knew that many of the people they support were hugely vulnerable to food poverty, and would struggle to get out to shops and food banks as they were shielding. With additional funding secured, the two teams came together to deliver meals to older carers, parent carers, young carers and their family members across Moray.

Hugh Norgate, manager of The Bow, says “The people who have volunteered have been amazing. They’ve gone above and beyond. The best bit has been delivering the meals. Everyone is so grateful, and it’s been important to speak to people on the doorstep and just check in on them. It has actually kept people safe, and provided really important connection for them.”

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Delivering more than 6,000 meals is a massive achievement of community spirit in exceptionally difficult circumstances.

The difference it has made for people experiencing isolation, poverty and hardship through the pandemic can’t be measured, but there is no doubt about the important role that these Quarriers services play in their local community.

three-course meals were delivered to the community in three months Page 7 • Quest Autumn 2020

We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has helped in Moray.

Quest Autumn 2020 • Page 7

Packs and packs of care As lockdown started, the face-to-face support we provide at Quarriers Children and Families services was forced to stop overnight. Sending care packs full of goodies, activities, and relaxation aids is just one thing teams have done to keep support going, and it’s proved vital.

Rhonda McInney, a Family Practitioner in Ruchazie, talks about the power of a bar of chocolate: “Lots of the parents we support have experienced multiple traumas in their own lives – childhood abuse, domestic abuse, mental health issues. For some, that has caused them to have a much smaller window of tolerance to crisis, so the pandemic only adds pressure to what is an already overwhelming day-to-day existence. During lockdown, there was a dramatic deterioration in families’ mental health and for some it was so serious it was life-threatening.

“Trying to help people to cope at a distance brought an immense sadness both for the children and families, but also for our team. We knew we had to keep connections there so made up pamper packs for adults and activity packs for the children. I was overwhelmed by how much that had meant for one of the young mums.

“Here’s what she told me:

I felt there was no point in going on – how can I protect my kids?

I’m so scared I can’t breathe.

I can’t take the kids to the park, I can’t take the kids to the shops.

We’re in a top floor flat 24/7.

What if my children catch the virus and die, what if I catch it and die, who will look after the kids?

I used my colouring book from the care pack, and read the wee positive sayings. I ate the big bar of chocolate in my bath with the bubble bath you gave me.

I kept on saying, over and over, ‘things will get better, there are people there to help me.’

A young mum, Ruchazie Rhonda says; “It’s amazing to think that a small care pack containing an adult colouring book, some positive affirmations, a big bar of chocolate and some bubble bath may have prevented someone experiencing the dark moments we have seen become life-threatening in recent months. Who would have thought that it would have meant so much?”

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1607 care packs have been sent out by Quarriers staff.

Here are just some examples.

Our Opt-In Service is there for young people needing extra support to move up from primary to secondary school. In the school holidays, the team sent out HOPE activity packs symbolising: • H for Happiness • O for Optimism • P for Perseverance • E for Excitement

Carer Support Service (Moray) sent out pamper packs for adult carers, and Lego challenge packs for young carers, with daily challenges such as ‘make a robot’.

Very overwhelmed, but I know I need to start looking after myself. Thank you.

Adult carer

I’ve never grown a plant before – thank you. I’ll make sure it’s the best.

Young person we support

Borders Resilience for Wellbeing Service sent out Seeds of Hope kits with sunflower seeds so secondary school pupils they support could have something to tend to and nurture.

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Opt-In Early Years Service sent out crafts packs for under 5s.

Quest Autumn 2020 • Page 9

How Quarriers care workers care Quarriers supports more than 300 adults with a learning disability and/or complex needs to live in their own home, group home or residential care home. Val is one of those people.

The team who support Val is just one of hundreds of teams working on the care frontline during lockdown.

Their compassion, creativity and commitment in supporting Val is mirrored throughout Quarriers, as staff work tirelessly to keep each and every person we support as safe, well and motivated as possible – despite everything.

“At the beginning, it was actually frightening,” says Tracy Kelly, Depute Project Manager for Val’s service. “As lockdown started, the biggest worry for us all was ‘what if someone we support becomes ill?’

Page 10 • Quest Autumn 2020

This has been the biggest challenge the team has ever had, but they have absolutely risen to it.

Tracy, Depute Project Manager

“The people we support are so reliant on us. It was vital not only to have the PPE, but with us working with people in such close and sometimes personal support, strict measures and processes were put in place.”

Keeping everyone as safe as possible has been crucial for the team, but far from spending lockdown in fear and worry, Val has been gardening, painting rainbows on her windows, having pamper sessions, afternoon tea, and disco nights and winning the Quarriers Christmas card competition – you can see her brilliant card design on page 16.

Her emotional and mental wellbeing has been as important to her team as her physical health, and they’ve worked incredibly hard to keep her spirits up. Key worker Margaret even arranged for Val to have a day at the beach – in the back garden!

I thought, well, if Val can’t go to the beach, then the beach will have to come to Val. Margaret

“Val is usually out seven days a week,” says Margaret. “We’ll take her for lunch and to her social club, and we often have a trip down to Largs.

So I went to the shops and bought a sandpit, sand, buckets, spades and a lovely lunch, and we made a beach out the back. She had a great time.

We have all just been trying to make sure she hasn’t been bored, and it seems to be working!”

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Val’s parents would usually be regular visitors but were shielding and everyone was acutely aware of how distressing it could be for everyone to miss that contact. Key worker Elaine says “We kept Val informed about what was happening with all the social distancing measures at all times, and we watched the news with her so she could understand better why she couldn’t see her parents.” Happily, with such great support, Val took the whole thing in her stride - helped by regular Zoom calls with her parents and brother. For Val’s mum Jean, it meant a lot to know she could rely on Quarriers to care for her daughter.

“As lockdown started we had no idea what would happen,” she says.

“There was so much uncertainty and no one knew what was coming next so the last time we saw her, we were honestly thinking ‘is this the last time we will see her?’

“The team has been amazing.

Knowing they had the PPE they needed was vital but they also put lots of additional safety precautions into place – like ferrying staff who would normally get public transport to work via car. I had no doubt they were taking great care of Val.” Page 12 • Quest Autumn 2020

I have nothing but praise for the team.

Val’s mum, Jean

Here at Quarriers, we are hugely proud that there are many more stories like Val’s, showing the strength of staff commitment to the people we support during a stressful and emotional time for everyone.

We care, and we know you do too.

To each and every supporter, thank you for helping to make wonderful things possible. You may have many reasons for contributing, which could be summed up in Margaret’s thoughts on her role as a key worker: “When Val and I are out for a walk counting rainbows in the windows, or I’m doing her nails, it means a lot to be keeping her morale up. I get so much satisfaction from it. It makes me happy to see Val happy. You do it all because you care - you care about the people you support.”

Val is supported by a team of four key workers: Pauline, Mukta, Elaine and Margaret

Corporate news: Picture Book Fashion partner with Quarriers We are delighted to announce a new charity partnership with the company behind A*Dee and Mitch & Son, Picture Book Fashion.

The company has been donating beautiful clothes to our Family Resource Centre for several years, and in the midst of this hugely challenging time for fundraising, we are so grateful for their decision to develop that support.

Andrew Molloy, Director of the company, said “With Picture Book Fashion being a family run business in Glasgow, it is really important to us to support local children and families. Forming an official partnership with Quarriers seemed like the best way forward for us to help the community.”

From big business to one small girl A wee story from Rhonda McKinney, Family Practitioner at Ruchazie, on the real impact of an act of kindness from Picture Book Fashion.

“The donations from Picture Book Fashion have been so welcome.

Many of our families are coping with multiple challenges like ill health, poverty, and trauma. The children have received beautiful but also essential items – like winter coats – that they just would not have had otherwise. I support one wee girl who just loves her gold puffer jacket donated by the company a couple of years ago. You can see her almost light up when she wears it. She feels special, and she feels included – just like other children she sees on TV or in the community, she’s got something nice to wear. And she’s still wearing it two years on!”

Left: Picture Book Fashion Director, Andrew Molloy, drops off a donation of clothes.

www.picturebookfashion.com Page 13 • Quest Autumn 2020

Quest Autumn 2020 • Page 13

Supporting stars Thank you, thank you, thank you to the all the determined people who didn’t let the cancellation and postponement of local challenges and fundraising events beat them, and instead took on their own fundraising projects online or at home.

During this worrying time, it has really helped to know that fundraising challenges can still happen. And what an amazing selection of creative ways supporters have used to raise vital funds and help us care for people when they really need us.

This issue our Supporting Star award goes to…

Graeme, who took on the 2.6 Challenge to do something on the theme of 26 or 2.6.

He’s a star because…

He raised £2,270 by walking up and down the stairs in his close 26 times. He also brought a team of friends together to do their own choice of fundraising too.

The reason for getting involved?

Graeme says “I work in a Quarriers supported living service and am proud to be part of a great team.

I wanted to do something in my

You can do it too!

spare time to raise funds for the COVID-19 effort as well as the service where I work.

I walked up and down the equivalent of two skyscrapers’ worth of stairs, something I didn’t think I was capable of.

My friend Ross walked around his house and garden, and another friend cycled 26 miles.

“It will be brilliant to see the impact of that fundraising, with some of the funds going towards unique experiences and social events for the people we support.”

Get in touch and let us know what your fundraising plans are. We have loads of advice too, and can send you out a fundraising pack full of nifty ideas. Contact us at fundraising@quarriers.org.uk or call 01505 690875.

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Our promise Making sure your data is safe and secure

We know how important it is to make sure that the information we hold about our supporters is safe and secure. For that reason, we wanted to update you on the work we have been doing over the last month in response to a data breach that hit the charity sector in the UK. Our Database

Our promise to you

Our database is called Raiser’s Edge and this is hosted on our behalf by an organisation called Blackbaud.

In July, we received notification that Blackbaud had suffered a data breach and that a back-up file containing non-sensitive data on our donors had been removed from their system – no financial information was accessed. This was a worldwide breach with many organisations involved. Blackbaud acted quickly to have this file returned and secure the data. They are confident that none of your data was or will be misused or shared.

Quarriers have followed all procedures by reporting to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) and the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).

We are confident based on the information supplied by Blackbaud that your data is safe and security has been further increased by Blackbaud since this event occurred.

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All of your preferences are stored alongside the contact details you provide, allowing us to contact you easily and ensure we are meeting all of the requests you have made around the storage and use of your data.

Should you wish more information on this, or if your details and preferences have changed, please do get in touch with us at fundraising@quarriers.org.uk or 01505 690875 at any time.

For more information visit www.quarriers.org.uk/privacy Page 15 • Quest Autumn 2020

Quest Autumn 2020 • Page 15

Send a card in 2020 This Christmas, more than any other, it might be nice to send a card to let people know how you are and send them your very best wishes.

Quarriers Christmas cards feature lots of lovely designs, including two cheery cards designed by Val and Kevin, who are both supported by Quarriers. They are the joint winners of this year’s competition to design a card because we couldn’t decide between them, so chose both designs! We hope you love them as much as we do.

Design

by Kevin

How to order By post See the booklet enclosed with Quest and send your order in with a stamped addressed envelope.

Online Visit the Quarriers Christmas card shop at www.quarriers.org.uk/ christmas-cards By phone 01505 690875

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

Design

by Val