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We want to raise sufficient funds to buy a 2nd hand 8 berth holiday caravan on the Northumberland Coast so that our Kinship Families can at last take a holiday, especially after Lockdown.
Sorry this project was unsuccessful, we did not reach our fundraising goal.
Wallsend Kinship Carers was set up in 2015 to provide relief and support initially for the Carers who could relax with each other as they had very similar experiences. WKC has been very successful at providing activities and entertainment for their cared for children too during school holidays. In order to raise larger amounts we had to become a full charity which happened last June. At the end of 2019 we collaborated with Northumberland University to survey all NE Kinship Carers to ask what support they most needed. It was no great surprise that Days Out and Holidays were at the top of the list. Unfortunately with Lockdown we were unable to run a proper leafleting campaign by contacting surgeries, nurseries and schools. This survey has lead to our No 1 project to buy a caravan for our Kinship Carers to holiday in! We will be able to organise days out to the caravan that will allow our cared for children to grow familiar with the holiday park so they can look forward to holidaying!
What we'll deliver:
Why it's a great idea:
A desperately needed break for both exhausted grandparents and their cared for and damaged children. Opportunity to swim and play on the beach, a play area and other entertainment is laid on for the children on site . 'Normal' life is exhausting for grandparents with children that require almost constant attention. The Lockdown has just made it very much worse for the children who already have behavioural and attachment problems and many are on the autistic spectrum. Attempting holidays is often a very fraught experience for Kinship Families, our children do not 'look forward' to any change to their routine. Lots of their toys have to be taken to comfort them. Travelling any distance was impossible. On site catering was often beyond their pocket, so food had to be carried too. Holidays always stressful. We will organise some away-days before their actual holidays so the children can enjoy the beach and play area beforehand. So hopefully they will look forward to their real holiday.
Steps to get it done:
Often Grandparents have had to give up their jobs in order to provide the level of care needed. So they are always struggling for funds. So often they have not been able to afford a proper holiday. To get away without the children would be bliss, but they know they can't do that as the children would be too distressed. Anything organised for the children always requires carers to go too. One grandparent commented after a successful trip to the pantomime, they had enjoyed it even more than the children, as for two hours they could 'switch off'! After almost a year of very little outdoor activity, that is if they even have a garden, the children will thoroughly enjoy playing on a beach or playground along with other children. They might even make holiday friends and allow grandparents to sit back a bit even relax for a while. The children will probably sleep soundly after time spent in the bracing North Sea air. This will produce great quality time for both children and their carers.
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Whoop, 10 people have pledged since fundraising began!
Glorious News - we have just heard that our Local North Tyne Community have awarded us £5000 towards our goal of £25,000! This is thrilling news for our Kinship Carers. It makes us feel that we are going to get that Respite Holiday Caravan hopefully within 2 years. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!!
Now that we have actually had some summery weather we can actually think of what activities we can plan for Kinship Families for their Summer Holiday. Wallsend is blessed with some excellent beaches not too far away. We have also got some trips planned. One trip is to Flamingoland in Yorkshire. Our group will split up into the older children and younger children so that they follow age appropriate activities. Another trip planned is to Go Ape..... amongst the tree tops. Sounds exciting but with anything new our children need their carers/granny/grandpa with them to give them confidence to try it - once they have tried something it is often hard to get them away again!
On the first Saturday after partial release from Lockdown. We went to look at Sandy Bay. It was a lovely sunny day and a exciting buzz of children running around thoroughly enjoying their release too. It felt 'homely' and everyone greeted us! We were very impressed by all the facilities on offer. We visited several caravans and began to imagine ourselves in one for a whole week...... We discussed our project with Sophie from Parkdean, who understands our situation and will let us know when a suitable 2nd hand 8 berth caravan comes up for sale. We know that we can only offer to buy when we have raised sufficient funds. Although it would be wonderful for our Carers if we were able to do that within one year, we have to be realistic and plan for a two year campaign.
How will the money be spent?Total £29,420
Costs Breakdown
This shows how money raised for the project will be spent. These costs have been confirmed by the project's Delivery Manager and verified.
Total £29,420
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VolunteerThe Wallsend Kinship Carers are a group of mostly grandparents who have been obliged to look after their grandchildren because their birth parents are unable to provide suitable care. Sometimes a child has been placed with their grandparents without any warning, No cot, clothing, bedding, food or even nappies provided. Certainly no provision of who to go to to help.
Often the grandparents have been in work and now discover it is impossible to hold down a full time job and care for this child who probably has attachments disorder never mind ADHD, or another problem/s from the autism spectrum. With the lack of funding and help they withdraw from their old lives. They feel shame that somehow they have failed to raise their own children as suitable parents. The grandchild's behaviour is difficult in public places and they imagine that they are alone and unsupported in their locality.
Until Lockdown, we had been making every effort to communicate with these Kinship Carers to let them know there was help and support available to them. We planned to leaflet Doctor's surgeries, nurseries and schools. We have funding to produce the leaflet and we hope once Lockdown comes to an end we can raise awareness of Wallsend Kindship Carers and offer much needed support to all our local carers. We know what relief these carers experience once they know they are amongst others in the same situation who are happy to help and support them.
Previously we held coffee mornings one a fortnight for all carers. Often, we had speakers who provided much enlightenment and inside information about caring for Kinship Children. During school holidays activities and entertainment for the children have taken place weekly with outside activities being a priority.
In the past we have been successful in obtaining funding for these activities, so that we haven been obliged to become a fully fledged charity. Now with the benefit of our survey by Northumbria University we know that what our carers need most are trips and days out and the possibility of less stressful holidays. Consequently, and especially after the desperate situation of lockdown we have taken the big decision to buy a 2nd hand caravan not too far away on the Northumberland Coast where our families can have a stress free holiday.
Project Owner: Wallsend Kinship Carers The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.
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