Quarriers have said ‘thank you’ to supporters who helped more than 1,000 disadvantaged children across Scotland enjoy some much-needed summer fun over the holidays.
The leading social care charity asked people to donate £15 to give a child a day to remember and over the summer months children and young people from Moray down to Stranraer have been camping, building dens, visiting the seaside and participating in arts and crafts.
The Creative and Active Lives project – Get Creative, Get Active – facilitated a summer activity programme in Falkirk, supplemented by funding from the Quarriers Summer Days Appeal, which provided youngsters who have spent time in care with the opportunity to enjoy a series of fun, enjoyable days out.
Aiming to help young people in challenging circumstances, the project offers a range of activities to help develop self-confidence, fitness and mental health. Over the summer, members of the group enjoyed trips to Blair Drummond Safari Park and the Scottish Deer Centre, as well as a trip to Edinburgh Dungeon.
Additionally, local young people from Quarriers’ Intandem project, which pairs children living at home in challenging circumstances with volunteer mentors who act as positive role models, enjoyed an afternoon of alpaca trekking.
The annual ‘Summer Appeal’ is designed to give children facing difficult circumstances a welcome break from the challenges of their everyday lives and amongst those benefitting were children in care, teenage parents and other vulnerable youngsters supported by services provided by Quarriers.
Alice Harper, Chief Executive of Quarriers said: “For some of the children who benefited from this year’s appeal it was the first time they’d had a proper day out and it was a chance for them to forget the pressures on their young shoulders and to make some lasting memories.
“Every year the number of children that we can help in this way has grown and we’d like to say a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to every one of our supporters.
“We work hard to ensure the people we support reach their full potential and days out provide the opportunity to build on vital skills such as communication and team-work as well as playing, exploring and having fun. The lasting effect these outings have on youngsters should not be underestimated.”
In addition to days out, Quarriers provides support groups, befriending services, mentoring and life coaching to help children with a difficult start in life gain confidence, build resilience, stay in school and connect with individuals going through similar experiences.
The charity aims to instil a forward-looking and positive view of what’s to come for those who may have had a difficult start in life, helping to transform futures.
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