A PIONEERING new scheme offering a 'short break' respite service for people with learning disabilities is being extended to the Okehampton area. Devon County Council's 'short breaks' service uses places and activities available to the public as respite opportunities, rather than traditional bricks and mortar respite units which are seen as institutional and restrictive. Activities such as abseiling, horse riding, rock climbing and watching local football or rugby matches will be opened up to people through the scheme. Piloted first in Tiverton, the new respite opportunities are now being extended to people with learning difficulties in the Okehampton and Crediton areas. Cllr John Rawlinson, council executive member for adult and community services said: 'By getting out of the mindset that respite services must be provided from traditional respite units, we are opening up a whole new world of opportunities for people. 'It makes sense that people would rather be supported to do more of what they enjoy doing — for just a few hours, or over a weekend for example — than have to go to a respite unit. 'We can offer people three day breaks canoeing, abseiling, horse riding, rock climbing, archery and swimming. Or breaks to Butlins, or youth hostelling in South Hams. Or we can arrange just a few hours for people at a football or rugby match on a Saturday afternoon. The choice is theirs.' Cllr Rawlinson added: 'We're pleased with the way the service is working in Tiverton and to be extending the concept for people in Okehampton and Crediton areas.' He said the scheme also gave carers well earned breaks from their caring roles, and the chance for learning disabled people to do something that they have not done before. Carolyn Elliott, Devon County Council's head of services for people with learning disabilities, said: 'We know, because people tell us, what they enjoy doing, their hobbies and interests. We work out a programme of activities, working with businesses and organisations in the community, around what people enjoy. They and their families and carers can then choose what they'd like to do and when they want to do it. 'Some of our shorter activities are proving very popular. We regularly organise supervised trips to watch a local football or rugby match, for example. Or we could go to the local cinema to watch a film for a few hours. 'But some of our overnight breaks are also popular, especially those to Exmoor with the Calvert Trust which is completely accessible to people with physical and learning disabilities. 'We know from feedback we get that people are enjoying these breaks, and their families and carers are just as pleased.' Sue West, team leader for the Tiverton project, said the scheme was working well and she helped to build on that success in the Okehampton area. 'The people who would be eligible would be people living with their carer. We aim not just to give the carer a break, but to give the service user a memorable experience in the process. It is not about taking them out of their warm, secure home and doing something they are not really interested in,' she said. Devon County Council says providing more respite opportunities and help for carers is one of their social service priorities, as demonstrated by the fact the council is investing more in respite opportunities for people with learning disabilities this year than ever before.
