Rationale:
The Slovakian MS Union organises outings for people affected by MS and their families. This provides an economical way for people with MS to maintain, and continue to build, social networks within the MS community, share similar experiences and take part in a variety of activities at a minimal cost.
Objectives:
• To offer inexpensive social gatherings for people with MS who may be unable to continue socialising through the workplace and/or clubs or sports teams
• To motivate people with MS, who may leave their homes infrequently due to accessibility and transportation difficulties, to meet with others with MS
• To provide young children, who have a parent with MS, with the opportunity to meet and play with other children in a similar situation and to encourage adolescent children to share their experiences with others their own age
• To help people with MS and their families get out to relax and enjoy themselves, thereby increasing their quality of life
• To raise MS awareness among people with MS, and support activities offered by local branches of the Slovak MS Union
Background:
It is quite expensive to organise social meetings for people with MS, and funding provided by the government is very limited. Accessibility can be an obstacle; a person using a wheelchair typically requires two assistants in order to be able to leave his or her home and to move about the city – resulting in further expenses. Outings provide people with MS and their families with the opportunity to enjoy a day out, where they can discuss and share their personal experiences in an accessible and supportive environment.
Marketing the programme:
Promotion of the outings is the responsibility of each branch chairperson. Members of larger chapters of 30 members or more receive a short announcement and invitation by post. Members of smaller chapters of 30 members or fewer receive a personal phone call from their chairperson with the outing details. Whether by mail or telephone, invitations are extended two weeks prior to the outing. Chairpersons will also invite people with MS from other towns where there is no local MS branch. This is an inexpensive way to promote the programme in other communities and, depending on the need, could result in the opening of a new MS branch.
Programme Structure:
The chairperson of each branch organises the outings. This includes purchasing the food and drinks for everyone who attends. However, members often bring extra food or drink as a contribution. The outings are held outside city limits, in specified picnic areas or in members’ gardens. There are no fees for the use of the grounds and they do not have to be booked in advance because the outings are held in public picnic areas or back gardens.
The events are informal and relaxed; members are encouraged to spend the day as they wish, but the main activities include socialising with other members, singing along to a guitar and accordion, roasting sausages around a campfire, swimming (when the chosen area has a lake or pool), and, currently, Trnava and Presov branches offer hippotherapy (therapy with horses) as part of the outing.
Outcomes:
Around 20 people attend each branch outing, enabling over 500 people affected by MS per year to participate in the branch outings. In Slovakia there are no specific support groups for children and teenagers with a parent with MS, so this fills the need for them to become involved and express how they are feeling about MS in their family.
Project costs:
• Food and drink for all participating members
• Invitations and announcements
• Activities (e.g. horses and a trainer)
• Transportation to and from the picnic site
Limitations:
Families have to have transportation to the meeting place. Since it is held outside the city, it may not be reachable by public buses or trains. Due to financial constraints, there are some members who are not able to travel due to the cost of transportation. As it is held outdoors, it is only possible to meet when the weather is fair.
Suggestions:
If a country wants to try organising a family picnic on an informal basis and it is successful, they should try to convince their MS Society to promote it as a national programme. Also, if someone from the group has fundraising experience, ask that person to take on the search for a sponsor. Funding could be used to pay for pamphlets and their distribution, so that more people can be made aware of this activity.
Informal, relaxed events include activities like roasting sausages around a campfire.
|
