What are short breaks

Short breaks for all parents

Universal services are available for all children, whether or not they have a disability. Get information about universal activities from the family information service, see if there are events happening in the borough's youth clubs and adventure playgrounds that could help you take a short break from your caring responsibilities. 

If you need a break from your responsibilities and require child care, you can find out about childcare options available.

Short breaks for parents of children with disabilities

If you’re a parent or carer of a child or young person with a disability you may be eligible for additional short breaks:

Targeted short breaks

Your child’s disability might mean they have additional needs that prevent them from accessing universal or mainstream short break activities. If so, you may need extra help or specially trained staff to access the sorts of activities that would allow you to take a break from caring for your child.

If you are experiencing these sorts of difficulties, we might be able to help you through our targeted short breaks.

Specialist short breaks

Your child’s disability might mean you need to spend a lot more time caring for them than you would if they didn't have a disability. If so, you may need more breaks from caring than other parents or carers of children and young people that do not have a disability. 

If you have to spend a lot more time caring for your child because of their disability, we might be able to help you through our specialist short breaks. These services are for children and young people with the highest levels of need and are accessed through children’s social care.

What services we fund

The Local Authority are not responsible for providing or funding all the activities that parents or carers use to take a break from their caring responsibilities. Some activities (like swimming lessons) are provided by the private sector, other activities (like Cubs or Scouts) are provided by the voluntary sector.

These activities might not receive any funding from us. Find out about these types of activities from the family information service.