Short Break Stories

Long Weekend Breaks

A story by Crossroads Orkney

We provided grants directly to carers who live in the Orkney Islands to access a two night trip to the Scottish Mainland.

If they were unable to leave the island they had the option of an alternative therapy, club membership or any other break that matched our guidelines.

What Long Weekend Breaks did

We have made 24 grants over the past year, 22 of which were for a trip of the island. Some grants were made towards a longer holiday. One grant was for a series of pampering sessions and another for a gym membership.

We advertise the fund on our website, through our quarterly newsletter and the local newspaper. Social Services are also aware of this fund. We have a user friendly application form which we send to the Carer to fill in. On its return it goes before the panel which consists of the manager, assistant manager and a board member. The Carer is then informed of the decision and where needed, help to book their trip. The grant is paid on receipt of booking confirmation or can be paid up front by special arrangement if required.

The X family have a child with a complex condition which requires daily extensive care, the other children help out along with a team of other care workers.

The family can access a hospice for respite care. As the parents both care for the child, finances are tight. Our time to live fund has enabled the family to take up the respite offer at the hospice using our fund to pay for the travel there. Having this break has been a huge benefit to all the family as there are a team of workers at the hospice to see to all the child's needs allowing the family to have time to rest, relax and do fun things together.

Carer Y is a full time Carer for their severely disabled partner. The Carer had to give up work several years ago to care for their partner. Financially things are very tight but with the help of a direct payment to pay for care workers to take over the carers role and the Time to Live fund they were able to make a trip to the Scottish mainland to see their mother for a few days.
Carer Z is a lone Kinship Carer who looks after four grandchildren. This fund allowed the Carer to take a trip with the children to see their mother. Kinship Carers get very little in the way of assistance and the Carer in this instance said it was so nice to be able to have something to look forward to, that they wouldn't have been able to access any other way. Having a short break cheered everyone up making the caring role that little bit easier.

What Crossroads Orkney has learned

We have learned how important it is for carers to have a couple of days away from everything and how refreshed and grateful they are that they get this opportunity.

The fund compliments our existing respite care scheme. We have had a lot of returning applicants and some new ones too. Availability of this fund is getting through to people and it was heartening to see a Kinship Carers come forward. Management of the fund is so easy and it is so beneficial to Carers.
Top tips Crossroads Orkney's top tips for an organisation that wants to run a similar project
Tip 1:
Keep the application form simple. Carers are usually busy people often under stress and a complicated form could be off putting.
Tip 2:
Keep an open mind as to what a break might consist of. Last year we put funding towards a garden fence for a little boy with special needs. He loved to play outside but it wasn't safe without a fence and mum was getting fed up standing in the garden all day.
Tip 3:
Be prepared to help the Carers access breaks. Some Carers might not have access to, or be able to use, online facilities.

"Thoroughly enjoyed the total relaxation and the time spent away from home. Did me a power of good - I am now a Pampered person! - Thank you"

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