On the 1st January 2014, we opened the doors of Beit Yusef to its first respite care guest and since then we have been gradually building the project.  

Front of Beit Yusef. There is still a lot more work needed to tidy up the outside of the property but for now we are concentrating on the facilities on the inside.

The centre itself had been empty for 12 years prior to us taking on a long term lease and so throughout 2014 we were renovating the building in order to make it a safe and suitable home for those who we provide respite care for.

Every week we bring a different small group of profoundly disabled young people to our Bethlehem project to provide them a short break (4 days) from their families.  Each group returns every 8 weeks, whilst in-between their visits to our project, we regularly visit them at home and live life with their families.

This relationship allows slow but sure changes to take place within the family home which are a help to all members of the family.

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Now into our third year of work...

With all of the larger renovations completed we are able to continue at an accelerated rate to work on establishing the respite care programme.   We now have an 8 week rolling programme and during this time each disabled individual stays with us at the Beit Yusef for four days.  

They work on their individual targets, and assessments on their progress are carried out.  Most importantly though, during their time at Beit Yusef they experience fun in a loving and safe environment.
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During the 8 week cycle they are also visited in their home by members of the team, and progress is shared with their family. Each family is shown a range of activities which could be carried out with their disabled relative and support and advice is gently given. We have already seen incredible progress even from our severely disabled young people and we are all seeing changes in some of the families and how they treat their disabled relative.  .  

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Renovation work at Beit Yusef 
before....

...and after. 

What is?
Respite Care

Respite care is the provision of short-term, temporary relief to those who are caring for family members who might otherwise require permanent placement in a facility outside the home.

What is?
Short Break

A short break is a period of time on which normal activities, especially business or work, are suspended or reduced. Generally, short breaks are intended to allow individuals a time of relaxation and enjoyment.  

What is?
Community Outreach

Community outreach is an activity of providing services to populations who might not otherwise have access to those services.  A key component of community outreach is that the groups providing it are not stationary, but mobile; in other words they are meeting those in need of outreach services at the locations where those in need are.  In addition to delivering services, community outreach has an educational role, raising the awareness of existing services.  Community outreach is often meant to fill in the gap in the services provided by mainstream (often, governmental) services, and is often carried out by non-profit, nongovernmental organisations.