Short Break Stories

Creative Breaks 2014/15

A story by Western Isles Community Care Forum

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

What Creative Breaks 2014/15 did

Western Isles Community Care Forum maintain a Register of Informal carers, so have a good database of carers. We also run a project where we visit carers in their own homes and staff were able to advertise the Short Breaks Fund and give ideas on ways to utilise it. Through this project we were able to identify some carers who were desperately in need of a break. We also advertised via our web-site, Facebook page and through our newsletters. Other agencies we work alongside were aware of the fund and signposted their clients to it.

Our panel consisted of 3 members of staff - Co-ordinator, Clerical Assistant and Trainer. The panel met 4 times during the lifespan of the fund to make awards, in order that as many carers as possible could have an opportunity to apply. This year we were able to provide some assistance with travel costs, due to our geographical location and the carers found this very useful.

Carer A looks after her son who has Kabuki Syndrome. The Short Breaks Award was used to purchase some meals out for the family and also a trainer bike. She said "Having meals out saved me having to cook and think of meals, which was relaxing and the kids enjoyed it. I jog in the summer, so the bike will enable me to keep my fitness levels up in the winter, for looking after my Son. Exercise reduces my stress levels - better than any medication".

Carer B looks after her husband, who suffered a stroke and used her Short Breaks Award to pay for a course in Art & Archaeology. She reported " I was able to ‘escape’ from my caring role for a few days and spend it with people who had the same interests. I also met some new folk, which was great for me. No talk about hospitals, care packages etc – a complete get away.

The course wasn’t just classroom based, we went outdoors and I even went to a place I had never been. I learned new skills and gained confidence in art which was part of the course. I’m a volunteer in a community group which enables people to access archaeology, so this course will be useful. An old school friend of my husband’s was staying with us and he took care of him whilst I went on the course. They thoroughly enjoyed each others company and it was good for my husband to get a break from me too
Carer C looks after her husband who has multiple health conditions. Her Short Breaks Award was used to take a trip on her own for a few days, during which she enjoyed a massage. She reported to us afterwards " Made a big difference to me – I had a week of uninterrupted sleep which was great and the massage really helped ease the pain I get in my back.

My time was my own for a change. I never thought about taking a break away before I got this award and it’s opened a door for me. I will try and take regular breaks in future as I now recognise the benefits.

What Western Isles Community Care Forum has learned

This Fund has enabled us to identify more carers which has led to us supporting more. Other agencies have been prompted to make referrals to us as a result of the Short Breaks Fund.

Carers are more likely to refer others to our organisation, when there are financial benefits available. Promoting the Autistic Spectrum Fund, although small, increased our profile among that group of people. Carers feel more valued when such funding is made available to them. Carers begin to recognise the importance of taking a break from their caring role
Top tips Western Isles Community Care Forum's top tips for an organisation that wants to run a similar project
Tip 1:
Advertise widely, including with statutory organisations to enable as many carers as possible have the opportunity to apply.
Tip 2:
Encourage carers to 'think out of the box' and gain long term benefits (collection of Short Breaks Stories is now a useful tool for this).
Tip 3:
If an application is unsuccessful in the first round of awards, re-consider it in the next round - keep form filling to a minimum for carers.