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YOUTH & RESPITE SERVICE
The Youth and Respite Service has been in existence since 2003. It provides services nationally to people with the disabilities Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus, their families and/or carers.
Respite and youth services are provided and developed in line with what our members need and ask for.
We encourage our members to enjoy a healthy, social, active and fulfilled life, to avail of all education and employment opportunities and to ensure the development of a progressive society that is inclusive, aware and accessible to all.
THE YOUTH AND RESPITE TEAM
A small team of specialist full time staff is based in the National Resource Centre (NRC), Dublin who develops and organise all youth and respite services nationwide. Temporary contract staff, such as nurses and occupational therapists, also work on SHINE and weekend getaways annually. Voluntary youth officers are based in branches around the country and run events locally for specific age groups. Long and short term volunteers from nursing, education, social care and a variety of other backgrounds assist with respite breaks, annual events and SHINE in particular. Training for volunteers and contract staff is facilitated and organised by specialist staff at the NRC.
WHAT DO WE DO?
The Youth and Respite Team develops and provides services that are conducive to the needs of our members. Our services include SHINE, Weekend Getaway and Mid-term Breaks, Sports Adventure Away Week, National Sports Fun Day, Youth Forum and Youth Inclusion Projects. The Youth and Respite Team also provides support, backup and input into all conferences, seminars and family weekends organised by SBHI. For more in depth information on our service please see below.
SHINE
(Spina bifida, Hydrocephalus Ireland Nurturing Empowerment), formerly known as Summer Project
Click here to view a sample programme.
Every year we run SHINE, a residential Summer Independence Training Project which caters for teenagers and young adults from across Ireland with Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus. SHINE takes place over five separate weeks in different venues and each week is tailored to meet the needs of specific age groups. In the region of 100 participants attend SHINE every year, along with a dedicated team in excess of 80 volunteers and 65 staff.
Primary Aim
The primary aim of SHINE is to encourage participants to develop their independence and social skills in a fun and safe environment. SHINE also offers valuable respite for the participants, their parents/and or carers.
What do participants think?
These are some of the things participants have said over the years who were asked to sum up their thoughts of SHINE:
"challenging…exciting…just fab…happy week…a great experience that I will never forget… I enjoyed every activity we did and wouldn"t change anything
One word to describe SHINE
Great, excellent, good fun, funny, fantastic, great craic, addictive, super, enjoyable, witty, exciting, an experience to remember, marvellous, best week ever, great atmosphere, well ran, challenging.
A few words…
I made loads of new friends and also met up with some old ones.
I loved every bit of it.
Brilliant week…got on excellent with everyone.
A few more words…
"I thought it was good fun and I would love to come again".
"This week was my favourite week so far this year because I had great craic and the helpers were great and helpful".
"It was the best week I"ve had in my life".
"This is my 9th time on the project and it was one of the most enjoyable".
"Funny, exciting, good craic…It was great I loved it I would like to live here!"
"If I could I would come here every year forever. It was a fantastic week there is nothing I would change except I would like to be in the same group next year".
"I thought it was brilliant with all the activities especially archery & snakes & drums".
"It was cool, really cool, excellent!! It gives you a chance to be independent it"s a chance to make new friends, meet new people, get girlfriends!!"
"Bus drivers were very funny, everyone was very friendly, best ever"
"Self-defence gave me a confidence boost! It made me more aware of my surroundings and it made me use muscles I never used before!"
"I liked being part of all the noise in the drum workshop"
"It was very enjoyable all the volunteers were very nice and I felt very safe"
"I thought this week was fantastic and I can"t wait to come back next year"
"I would change it to two weeks instead of one week! I learned that if you are determined enough you can achieve your goal"
Some thoughts from a Mayo participant
What can I say? I think it is safe to say we all had a tremendous week in Galway.
I remember somebody asking me what the highlight of my week was, my reply was, "Where do I start?" For a start it seemed to me as if everyone got on so well together both volunteers and participants alike.
I really liked the way we were treated by the volunteers, nurses and Occupational Therapists.
The Atmosphere was brilliant, it was like being part of a big happy family.
Every day was a highlight. It was a great week, I can"t wait to be back next year.
Thanks for an unforgettable week – looking forward to next year already.
Some thoughts from a Dublin participant
I had a ball on the summer camp. It was fantastic. I met lots of new people. We did lots of activities. We had karaoke on the first night. It was brilliant.
On the first week, I went swimming. It was not a normal day at the pool. It was very relaxing because the lady at the pool switched off the lights and played beautiful classical music for us. There were disco balls that made me feel like I was in another world. We had a picnic on the grass.
My favourite outings were the trips to the cinema, the bowling alley and the disco. I met a nice new friend from Switzerland. I really enjoyed being with her and loved the way she spoke English.
We had the best night ever on the last night. When we go to the disco, the music was on. It was brilliant. DJ Amos played all the songs I like – Chris Brown and Shane Ward. They also celebrated my birthday at the disco. I really thank them for that. I also thank the chefs for the lovely food. I hope to see them all again next year. Many thanks SBHI. You are all so good.
What did participants learn?
"Different warm ups for basketball and rugby" – Michael age 24
"How to manage stress" - Susan age 28
"I now know what I can do for work experience" - John age 19
"What is involved in getting an adapted car" - Daniel age 17
"How to canoe" - Laura age 16
"That making new friends is fun!" - Olivia age 15
"How to bake pizza" - Sarah age 14
FAQ about SHINE?
How do I apply for a place on SHINE?
SHINE is open to all teenage and adult members. If you wish to attend, please give your name to your Family Support Worker, your local branch or contact the Youth & Respite Team in the National Resource Centre directly at the beginning of each year.
For 2010, closing date for receiving names is the 17th of February.
Please include the following when giving your name:
1. Name and age
2. Contact details (email is useful)
3. The number of years you have attended SHINE
4. Level of personal care needs - low/medium/high
5. Living situation (i.e. living with family / independently/with friends/residential house etc.)
6. Other respite available to you
7. Any other information which you feel relevant
Due to the high interest level every year, please note that no one is guaranteed a place. Decisions are reached by staff at the National Resource Centre on the basis of information provided.
Do I stay overnight?
Yes. You arrive in the afternoon on the Saturday and stay until the following Friday morning. You sleep in a dormitory with other participants. There are separate female and male dormitories. There are usually three participants in each dorm.
I have never stayed away from home before. What if I get homesick?
It is a great achievement to stay away from home for the first time and doing this not only makes you and your family proud, but also gives you great confidence. Remember homesickness passes once you start having fun. If you get homesick, you will have plenty of people to talk to and you can ring home if you want to. The best thing to do is to take each day at a time and see how you get on. A good idea for people who have never stayed away from home before is to spend a weekend or a night with friends or a grandparent or extended family member before you go on SHINE.
Who supports me?
There is a specially chosen team of coordinators, nurses, occupational therapists and volunteers to support you. Two care and activity volunteers work directly with you for the week and it is their job to always make sure that you are included, have someone to talk to and most importantly, are having fun! You will register on the first day with the nurses and the occupational therapists, so they will be aware of your needs and the goals you would like to work on during the week.
I am really shy. Also, I don't think I know anyone going on SHINE. Will I be ok?
Yes, you will be well looked after and you will settle in very quickly. Every year there are many participants who are first timers on SHINE who feel very shy and nervous about the whole experience. However, every year there are also lots of people who cry on the last day because they don't want to go home! Each participant has two, specially chosen care and activity volunteers and it is their job to always make sure that you are included, have someone to talk to and most importantly, are having fun! SHINE is a safe place to be, there is a lovely atmosphere and people really look out for you. The liaison officer volunteers will also be there for you and most liaison officers have been a participant when they were younger so they know exactly what it feels like.
Don't worry about not knowing anyone on SHINE because you will soon get to know everyone! Before the end of the second day you will already get the feeling that you are part of a huge family. Many members of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland say that they made friends for life while on SHINE. You will get to meet people who have the same disability as you and you will also make some fantastic memories.
Can I go on the same week as my friends?
If you would like to be on the same week as your friends, the Youth and Respite Team will do their best to accommodate you but cannot make any promises. When you put your name forward to be on SHINE, tell your branch/family support worker or the Youth and Respite Team the name(s) of the friend(s) you would like to be on the same week as you. Generally, it is not possible to put more than three friends together on the same week.
What should I bring with me?
Essential items to bring: Raingear, casual wear, towels, all toiletries like soap, toothpaste etc, sun cream, any medication or equipment you may need (eg, transfer board, hoist sling, air mattress, dressings etc), medical card, travel pass
Optional items: swimming costume, camera, musical instrument, I-pod/CDs, DVDs, one good set of clothes for night out, costume and accessories for Theme Night
What do we do on the week?
Every week has a set multi-activity programme which you will get a copy of on your first day. The programme is run both on and off site with lots of different things to do so you never get bored! The programme could include some of the following:
- The Arts, featuring modern dance, capoeira, world drumming, art and cinema
- Sports, featuring ice skating, archery, swimming, basketball, bowling, table tennis, obstacle courses
- Recreation, featuring shopping independently, educational tours to places such as the Guinness Storehouse, Cliffs of Moher Exhibit and Mountjoy Prison, day trips to the Volvo Sailing Ragatta, table quizzes, Theme nights, karaoke and discos on the final night
- Life Skills featuring occupational therapy workshops, cooking, money management, group discussions, mobility, public transport (Luas and bus) usage
- Beauty and Relaxation, featuring make up classes, yoga, massage, sensory activities
Weekend Getaways and Mid-term Breaks
We run weekend getaways in different venues throughout the year for adults. We also run mid term breaks for teenagers. Each break focuses on a particular theme relevant to participants" lives. These breaks take place in venues such as Cuisle Holiday Centre, Donamon, Co. Roscommon, Share Holiday village, Co. Fermanagh and The Kilcuan Centre, Clarinbridge, Co. Galway. If you are interested in attending any of these breaks, please contact your branch/family support worker or the Youth and Respite team at the beginning of each year.
Sports Adventure Away Week
We run an outdoor sports adventure week annually for adults who have reached a high level of independence, who are outdoor sports enthusiasts and/or have a real interest in trying out some challenging sports. We use adventure centres adapted for people with disabilities. For the past number of years, we have been attending the Calvert Trust in the heart of the Lake District, Keswick, England. The multi activity course includes: sailing, canoeing, horse riding, trap driving, orienteering, abseiling, archery, climbing and swimming. All specialised/adapted equipment for activities is provided.
If you wish to attend, please give your name to your Family Support Worker, your local branch or contact the Youth & Respite Team at the beginning of each year.
The closing date for receiving names for the 2010 Away Week is the 17th of February.
Away Week Poem
Abseiling and climbing wall
Everyone has a ball
Canoeing or sailing on the lakes
Fun and laughter until it aches
Scoring a bullseye with a bow
Pull that arrow and watch it go
25 foot in the air
Release the swing if you dare
Feel your stomach in your mouth
Climbing the ladder that sways about
Push those wheels way up high
You can almost reach and touch the sky
No challenge too great
No challenge too small
This rip roaring week
Is an adventure for all!!
Devised by the team, on the rough sea, from Holyhead to Dublin, 2007
National Sports Fun Day
A National Sports Fun Day is held annually, usually in September of each year, where members of all ages and their families can take part in a number of track, field and indoor events. It provides an opportunity for both able bodied and people with disabilities to participate together in sporting activities in a fun and inclusive environment.
Youth Forum
This is open to all young adult members and facilitated by branch youth officers with support from staff at the NRC. It is a safe and confidential environment where specific topics relevant to Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus are freely discussed. Ideas are thrashed out and youth projects organised such as lobbying the government or relevant bodies to improve accessibility, the inclusion of young people with disabilities in mainstream activities, organising exchanges or volunteering in Ireland or abroad, plus many other topics of relevance. If you are interested in joining the Youth Forum, please contact your local youth officer or Ann Reid, Chairperson a.purplewheels@gmail.com or Andrea Fox, Secretary, andreaf28@gmail.com. The Youth Forum meets regularly throughout the year and have recently started up a Superstars Bowling League.
Events
We celebrate seasonal events with activities for all members, their families and friends. Pay close attention to the calendar of events around Valentine"s, Easter, Halloween and Christmas!
Youth Inclusion Projects
We believe in integrating our members in mainstream youth clubs and run a number of local projects in conjunction with professional youth services.
The SBHI Team
The Youth and Respite Team provide support, backup and input into all conferences, seminars and family weekends organised by SBHI.
GALLERY
