Oscar* visited Nelson Lodge, one of Break's residential short breaks homes for children and young people with disabilities, for over 6 years until he was 19. Here his mother Gwen shares their experience. 

“Oscar always loved going to stay at Nelson and the staff were fantastic with him,” says his mum Gwen. “He’d generally go once a month at weekends, and sometimes during the week. It really made it all a bit easier on us as a family. It meant that we could spend some time together as a couple and give his younger sister the attention she needed.

“Oscar has complex needs. He’s autistic and has ticks and epilepsy and when he hit adolescence caring for him did become a bit more difficult for us. But the support he got at Nelson really helped him to regulate, and we always noticed such a different in him when he came home. He was so much calmer and more settled in himself.

“He loved to dance and listen to music and do puzzles and jigsaws. His favourite thing to do there was to cook the meals and they were great in letting him help them. We always felt we were safe in hands there, and they were instrumental in helping Oscar navigate through his teenage years. We had complete trust in them and it was wonderful to see him enjoying himself there. It was clear to see that they always had his best interests at heart.” 

Now 31, Oscar is living independently in a home provided by Mencap.  

* Name of young person has been changed