Nuremberg visit
This July a small group of our families were supported to go on a holiday to Glasgow's twin city of Nuremberg, with the help of funding from Glasgow City Council. The families were able to have a much needed break and meet other parents whose children had similar needs. It was a wonderful opportunity and huge thanks to the cities of Glasgow and Nuremberg for making this possible.
Visits included the Blindeninstitutstiftung (Institute for the Blind), the Field of Senses and the Ruckersdorf Institut for the Blind. Gill Morbey, our Chief Executive was able to accompany the families:
"It was an exciting opportunity for families and practitioners to share ideas while looking at how some forms of communication can go beyond the boundaries of nationality."
What the families thought
Parent Mary Garvey said:
"On Thursday 4th July, 4 families, staff from Sense Scotland, carers and volunteers, set off on our holiday to Nuremberg. We arrived at Glasgow Airport at 7am, the children were very excited and the adults were too. We flew to Amsterdam and then on to Nuremberg where we were met by Councillor Gebhard Schonfelder and Christine Plewinski who made us feel very welcome. By the time we settled into our hotel we were all pretty tired.
Over the next two days we visited two schools, both very impressive with wonderful facilities for the children, who took part in the school sports day and all received certificates. They were also able to get a ride on a horse. We also had a visit to a park called the Field of Senses, which everyone enjoyed followed by a visit to the zoo.
I think everyone's favourite day was when we went to Gebhard's farmhouse. There was a barbeque, the children enjoyed a ride on a horse and cart and Gerhard's neighbours came to meet us. We were shown such wonderful hospitality. Everyone had a great day.
For us, the Garveys, it was the first time in 6 years we had been on holiday together as a family. Lyndsay who is a support worker from the family centre was there as Gerard's carer which meant George and I could spend some time on our own, something we don't get to do often at home. We were also able to spend some time together as a family and share some wonderful memories with the other families.
As families we would like to say thank you to the Sense Scotland staff, carers and Peggy Lally, all of whom made our trip possible. We all had a wonderful time."
Parent Elaine McMath, said:
"My son Mark loved Germany and the other families were lovely. The people in Germany were also great and so nice, we were treated like royalty. The staff and support workers were godsends. Again a big thank you to everybody involved, it was a holiday of a lifetime and we would go again any day."
Toni accompanied her mother Sandra, father Tony and brother Josh on her first holiday abroad. The family wrote about their experiences during the visit.
"When we first heard of the holiday to Germany we put our names forward never thinking that we would be picked., with big Tony hoping we wouldn't as he hadn't flown and was terrified of the thought. A few weeks later Sense Scotland phoned to tell us that we had been chosen and we were off to Germany. This was the first holiday that the family have had together in four years and we couldn't have chosen a better one.
From the outset the organisation was excellent. The families just having to turn up at the airport, where we were met by staff and carers from Sense Scotland who took over from there. From the start all the families bonded well together and this lasted throughout the holiday and will continue long afterwards.
After two air flights, one of which was quite scary (ask big Tony), we arrived in Nuremberg. The reception and hospitality we received was exceptional and was throughout the whole week we were there. Councillor Gebhard Schonfelder was with us most of the week and took a huge interest in our families. One of our fondest memories from Germany is the day we spent at Gebhards country house. His wife, Ursula, opened her door to over 30 people that day. The food was wonderful, the scenery was beautiful, the children loved it and the parents and carers had a great time too. That day will stay with us for a long time to come.
The holiday also included a chance to see what kind of education and resources were in place for children like our own in Germany. We visited the Blind Institute in Wurzberg, which was celebrating its 125th anniversary. The staff and pupils warmly welcomed us and were glad to show us around. As there were carers with all the families, they were able to take care of all the children while the mums and dads could take a look at the facilities that the Blind Institute provided for their children.
May we say as a group how much we enjoyed this holiday and thank everyone who took part in organising it both here and in Germany. You have given us so many great memories that we will remember for a long time to come."