Sheffield City Council is running a Short Breaks Grant Programme until the end of March 2011, designed to give families of severely disabled children a one off payment to access short break activities, providing a break from the additional responsibilities that often come hand in hand with looking after a disabled child.
Sheffield offers a range of Short Break services to families which in turn provide:
- parents and carers with the opportunity for a regular break from their caring responsibilities
- children and young people with opportunities to participate in activities that they enjoy or to be cared for in their home.
Although Sheffield has offered Short Breaks for some time, since April 2009 we have been undergoing a programme of transformation, brought about by the Government’s Aiming High for Disabled Children Programme. Between April 2009 and March 2011 significant investment is being made in Short Breaks increasing both the range and the number of services that are available.
Short Breaks can take place in a wide variety of settings including, Saturday clubs, holiday, after school or evening programmes, overnight stays in residential homes, family based placements, care in your home or direct payments as an alternative to the Short Break services that are available.
Sheffield City Council’s Short Break Grant Scheme provides funding to families who care for a severely disabled child or children. It is important that families are able to use the grant funding flexibly. For example, you may wish to use the grant to fund a short break for the whole family or perhaps a weekend away for the parents. You could purchase a health club membership or attraction tickets, pay for car hire or use the grant to supplement an existing holiday scheme to afford a longer break.
For further information on Short Breaks in general please contact SIGN on 0114 2669476, sign@sheffinfolink.org.uk. If your enquiry relates to the Short Breaks Grant Programme specifically then please contact Catherine Calton on 0114 2398336, Catherine.calton@sheffield.gov.uk.
To download an application form and guidance notes please click on the links below:
Application Form
Guidance Notes
