NEWSLETTER  •  Christmas  2020

Welcome

Welcome to our Christmas newsletter! Well, it's fair to say that, one way or another, 2020 has been a year to remember.  So in this newsletter we're looking back at how we've found our way through these extraordinary times, and looking forward to our exciting plans for 2021. 

News from Ardvullin

The COVID crisis, and the necessary restrictions we've all faced as a result, brought our normal respite break programme to a halt just as we were preparing to welcome our first group of children to Ardvullin. However, by late July, after lots of planning and preparation we were able to offer family respite breaks for 3 nights each week. We were delighted to be able to continue this new and adapted service until the end of October. Our wonderful project worker Angus was able to welcome each family as they arrived and help them to have a fantastic time as they explored the area around Ardvullin. 

Take a look at some of this wonderful feedback from the families who were able to stay with us this year, and the organisations who referred them:

"The families and children that we refer are struggling to pay for the day to day necessities, and holidays like this are fantastic and unachievable. Thank you for helping provide beautiful memories for the children and families that we work with."

"The holiday was the best thing that happened this year. It was a home away from home and we were so refreshed by it."

"The change of scene was the right remedy for both families (on the respite break) as the pandemic has magnified their feelings of entrapment in a negative and at times suffocating home environment. HopScotch gave them big beautiful skies and new healing experiences."

"It gave us quality time together without distractions. It gave the kids new experiences and an overall relaxing time which was greatly needed after a stressful lockdown."

"I had fun doing all the activities. Angus has helped us and been super kind. Thank you."

And Finally...Looking to 2021

Our plans for 2021 are provisionally in place, although as with all things at the moment they will be contingent upon what government guidelines will permit. After the success of our family respite breaks in 2020 we are going to continue to offer them for the first two months of our respite break programme in 2021, which is planned to take place in March and April. After that we are hoping to restart our usual HopScotch group respite breaks from the beginning of May, and will run them all the way through until the end of November. We're also expecting that next year's respite break families and groups will be the first to benefit from our activity centre - we can't wait to hear what they think of it!