Hi everyone, and welcome to 2021’s first Respitality Round-Up!
We want to keep in touch with our many supporters around the world to showcase the life affirming and positive work our delivery partners, donors and ambassadors have contributed to unpaid carers in Scotland through the Respitality initiative.
If you have any queries about the work of Respitality in Scotland, please get in touch with us by emailing respitality@sharedcarescotland.com
The new kids on the block
Respitality operates a social franchise model, which enables us to work closely with local carers centres to offer Respitality breaks to the unpaid carers they support.
For those interested in what some of our delivery partners have to say about their Respitality journey, click on the images above to watch two short videos from Anne in Angus, and Ann in Aberdeenshire!
We have our own cheerleading team!
…Okay, not a real cheerleading team…but close enough!
We work closely with prominent figures in the hospitality, tourism & leisure sector who guide us in our engagement with the industry to create Respitality break opportunities, and we recently brought them all together virtually to chat about our plans over the next year.
Some ambassadors began working with us in the last couple of years, whilst others have been cheering on Respitality from the sidelines from the very beginning. They are a powerhouse of skills and knowledge, and we are so honoured and grateful for their passion and support of the initiative individually and collectively.
Have a look below to find out more about our ambassadors organisations:
With thanks to guidance and support from VOCAL – Voices of Carers Across Lothians, Visit Scotland, local carers centres and organisations in the hospitality, tourism and leisure sector, we launched a virtual breaks pilot called Respitality at Home in April 2021, which has seen us facilitate various virtual break opportunities for unpaid carers.
The restrictions placed in Scotland due to COVID-19 has resulted in unpaid carers not being able to take a short break ‘in person’ as they normally would. Furthermore, it has also affected the way that visitor attractions can operate. We felt the pilot would be a great way to deliver short breaks virtually for unpaid carers, but also an avenue for organisations to showcase their visitor attractions across the country and support their recovery.
So far, we have been able to support over 100 unpaid carers with hosts from 15 organisations in the tourism industry. The last break is due to take place in September 2021, so we will pull together a report of what has been achieved with the pilot later on in the year.
We wanted to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to everyone who hosted a virtual break, supported a carer to take a virtual break and has promoted the Respitality at Home pilot through the social media pages and newsletters!
How 2021 is shaping up so far…..
Carer testimonial – Hannah
Hannah* cares for her two-year-old daughter who has cerebral palsy and a chronic lung condition. After hearing about Respitality at a medical appointment, she arranged a chat with her Parent Carer Support Worker at Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre as she realised she needed to take a break from her caring role.
The carer was keen to take a short break outside her home. She chose to take up the offer by Buzz Bingo in Falkirk with a friend, which was a bingo game, meal and soft drink. Her Parent Carer Support Worker booked this on Hannah’s behalf, and all Hannah had to do was wait for her confirmation vouchers to come through the post!
After the break, Hannah told us “I want to say thank you to Buzz Bingo for this short break. I feel an improvement in my emotional health and feel less stressed about things. Everything was organised on my behalf by Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre and I felt this really suited my needs as an unpaid carer, as well as someone in employment.
It is important that carers have the opportunity to have time away from their caring roles and have time to themselves, so I hope that businesses continue to donate breaks to Respitality.”
An appeal for the Scottish Crannog Centre
We were shocked and saddened recently when one of our Respitality supporters, Scottish Crannog Centre, recently suffered a devastating fire. Thankfully, no one was hurt but sadly the beautiful crannog itself (which has been on the loch for 25 years) was destroyed.
This has been a massive blow to the amazing team of staff, volunteers and students who passionately engage every person who comes through their doors with the rich Iron Ages history in Scotland.
In the Shetland Islands, Respitality donor Fjara Café Bar supported carers during Carers Week (a national campaign in June to raise awareness of unpaid carers in our society) by offering a FREE cuppa and cake to unpaid carers and a companion.
Shetland Carers are very grateful to Fjara for their continued support of carers and their excellent service at the café!