Charity’s teenagers enjoy online package created by students

DUNDEE: Joint effort helps entertain youngsters with complex needs

Dundee students helped create a weekend of virtual games for teenagers with complex health conditions backed by Kinross-based charity Chas.

Abertay University joined Chas, Dunfermline’s Amazon centre and Scottish Gas to deliver a package of bake-offs, escape rooms and online games as part of a new wraparound virtual hospice service provided by the Rachel House charity.

Students created games for the teens while Rachel House staff organised activities such as games of Catchphrase, a virtual escape room, mindfulness session and a cake baking competition.

Andrew Reid, games production lecturer at Abertay University said: “It has been a real pleasure for Abertay students to devise and develop Chas Play – a suite of games for Rachel House children – as part of an ongoing project over the past two years.

“This weekend of activity was a perfect opportunity for us to speak a bit about the project in a fun environment and see how we can involve the teens in the design of the next one.”

Dunfermline’s Amazon packaged gifts for the children which were then delivered by Scottish Gas.

Lois Speed, mother to twins Kein and Kelsey from Arbroath, said: “When Kein and Kelsey opened the door to all the gifts, they felt like it was Christmas; and this built the excitement for the coming weekend.

“It was nice to know someone was thinking of us and helped to reduce our feelings of isolation.”

Elaine Liddle, charge nurse at Rachel House, thanked their partners, adding: “Reaching children and families in the ways we would ordinarily like to has been problematic but our clinical staff and family support teams are rising to the challenge in the physical world and now in the online one too.”

Jamie Strain, senior operations manager from Amazon’s Dunfermline Fulfilment Centre, said: “We’ve been working with Rachel House and Chas since 2015, whether it’s raising funds, donating technology and gift parcels to the hospices or hosting away days for families around our facility.

“We’re delighted to hear that the weekend was so warmly received and that the teens enjoyed themselves.”

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It was nice to know someone was thinking of us and helped to reduce our feelings of isolation. LOIS SPEED