Short Break Stories

Creative Breaks 2013/14

A story by Western Isles Community Care Forum

We provided grants directly to carers who live in the Western Isles.

What Creative Breaks 2013/14 did

We developed an application form and then advertised the fund through our web-site, newsletters, member organisations, carers noticeboards, some statutory services and our carers trainers project which supported carers in making an application.

Our selection panel consisted of the Co-ordinator, Clerical Assistant and a Training & Assessment Officer, who all met 4 times during the period of the fund.

Carer A told us she purchased massage sessions to relieve back pain incurred through her caring role - lifting her child in the early days without a hoist. The massage sessions helped her both physically and mentally. The pain in her back was reduced and she felt more relaxed. Without this award she would not have been able to go as often for a massage.

Carer B took a trip to the mainland and met up with her Son and family, who had traveled from England. The carer told us after being confined to the house for two and a half years, she got out of the habit of mixing with people & developed a fear of it. She was able to go to shops & actually enjoyed it which she didn’t think she could do. This trip enabled her to relax, sleep better & she had a weight lifted off her shoulders. Seeing the Grandchildren for the first time after two and a half years was great and they made her laugh. During the trip she enjoyed new experiences which she reported did her the world of good.
Carer C purchased an i-pad for her elderly Mother who has Dementia and was seeking a lot of attention. The i-pad is the ideal size for her to use in bed. She now listens to on-line local Church services every Sunday, as she is no longer able to attend herself and to various other services during the week. Old photographs have been uploaded for her to go through, as she can relate to them. The family are setting up Skype for her, so that she can see her son and Grandchildren who live on the mainland. This frees up the carer's time to go and do other things or relax and she herself can also use it whilst sitting with her Mother.

What Western Isles Community Care Forum has learned

- There is a great need amongst carers for regular respite
- Creative use of the Short Breaks Fund can lead to long term benefits
- There is a need amongst carers for practical and financial support
- Promotion of this fund has brought new carers to our organisation
Top tips Western Isles Community Care Forum's top tips for an organisation that wants to run a similar project
Tip 1:
Promote this fund well, so that as many carers as possible will have an opportunity to apply for funding
Tip 2:
Encourage carers to think creatively about how they would spend an award, in order to achieve long term benefits
Tip 3:
In order to reduce paperwork for carers, consider unsuccessful applications in the next round of funding, rather than rejecting an application and asking a carer to apply again