Call for Submissions: Take a Break Grant Program (UK)

Take a Break delivers one of four short break grant programmes available in Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Eligible Costs

• A holiday or short break away – for the carer, whole family or disabled young person
• Day trips – entrance fees to theme parks or zoos, meals out or a spa day
• An additional carer – to enable you to relax and fully participate during a break away
• Travel costs – ferry, bus or train tickets, travel passes, flights, fuel or taxi fares
• Sport, play or leisure equipment – including camping equipment, a paddleboard or a bicycle
• Clubs and activities – membership fees, sports training, season tickets or hobby materials
• Gardening or home entertainment equipment – to rest, relax and recharge.

Ineligible Costs

• Capital items such as vehicles
• Replacement of statutory funding
• A break that has already been arranged or something that has already been purchased
• Items that do not meet the principles of the fund, which is to support carers to have a break

Eligibility Criteria

• You can apply for a Take a Break grant if you:
  • Have lived in Scotland for six months
  • Are a UK resident
  • Care for a disabled or seriously ill child or young person, aged 0 to 17 years, who lives at home.
• You will not be eligible to apply if the child or young adult you care for is looked after by the local authority, or lives away from your home (for example in foster care).
• Parents and carers should be able to provide evidence of:
  • The disability or serious illness and the significant levels of support required for the child or young person they care for and the impact the caring responsibilities has on their:
    • Mental and emotional wellbeing
    • Personal opportunities and choice
    • Opportunities available to non-disabled children, dependents and other family members
    • Financial situation.
• A grant decision is not dependent on your child or young person having a diagnosis or on whether a Child Disability Payment (CDP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) has been awarded. Instead, it is determined by whether you meet the Take a Break, which is based on a social model of disability, rather than a medical model.
• Grants for carers of young people aged 18 to 20:
  • If you’re the unpaid carer of a young person aged 18 to 20, you can apply to the Time to Live grant programme. This programme is for all unpaid carers, including young carers. Time to Live is managed by Shared Care Scotland and delivered by local carers organisations across Scotland.

Application Requirements

• Adult carer support – a copy of your Adult Carer Support Plan or statement or a letter from your local authority
• Adult Disability Payment – your most recent benefit letter
• Carer Support Payment or Carer Support Payment underlying entitlement – your most recent award letter
• Child Disability Payment – your most recent benefit letter
• Short break provision letter from your local authority, local charity or hospice.
• Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP), Additional Support Plan (ASP), Child’s Plan
• A recent diagnostic or review report
• A supporting letter from a practitioner (for example a doctor, healthcare worker, therapist) who knows your child and can confirm their additional support needs and type of support they need.

For more information, visit Take a Break.