Our popular short breaks continue to provide a great respite option to many of the people we support. This week, Rothbury is one of our locations and the timing has been great for people who aren’t quite done with winter yet!
This home from home type break has provided the perfect venue for cosy nights in as well as bracing countryside walks. In a beautiful location, people can really relax and do something really different without losing those home comforts.
This is one of many that LD:NorthEast’s Short Breaks Lead, Amanda Nelson, has organised in the coming months. She comments, “I just love the fact that people who want a short break from LD:NorthEast have such an amazing time. We have a brilliant team of staff who always go over and above to make sure that every break is special and that every person does what they want to do”.
Support is very flexible and is provided is based on individual need, delivered in small groups or one to one. So many people have made new friends and as a result, continue this friendship independently.
Sandra, a lady who has been on many short breaks with LD:NorthEast and this week is going to Rothbury, told us, “I’m really looking forward to it. I love it there. I love to help out and go for walks and to cook. I like watching the stream”.
David Robinson is LD:NorthEast’s Chief Executive and is really pleased with how short breaks have developed in the last couple of years. He comments “It’s great to see people doing the things that most of us take for granted. Things like having some fun, meeting people, making friends and feeling good. It’s so important to our wellbeing. We are all about bringing people together and what better way than a short break. We know first hand that people with learning disabilities and other challenges, as well as those who care for people, can have it tough. It’s not always easy to feel included, not to mention some of the difficult situations so many of the people we support have found themselves in. We challenge this and make sure that people can live life to the full. I’m very proud of our team who are so focussed on making this happen.”
Short breaks can include action packed adventure holidays to places like Kielder Forest, countryside ‘home from home’ type breaks, holidays in the sun, city breaks, trips to attractions or theme parks, as well as breaks to sporting events or shows. Hundreds of people have benefitted from breaks with LD:NorthEast and keep coming back for more.
Jacqui Thompson, LD:NorthEast’s Operations Manager explains, “I just love our short breaks offer, as I see first hand how people benefit from them. I love going on them too when I get the opportunity! We keep the cost as low as we can so people get the best value. Some people pay through a respite budget they, or their carers, may qualify for. We can help people with this of course. Some people choose to pay themselves. We get to know people and help them to get to know others, who may have similar interests. We have lots of other activities at LD:NorthEast to help with this. It’s great to watch people develop. Many people really look forward to their break, which is one of the reasons we work hard to make sure they have a great time. Investing in our own transport has meant we have even more flexibility.”
If you would like to find out more about short breaks or anything else about LD:NorthEast, get in touch on 0191 2622261 or email info@ldne.org.uk