The Short Breaks Scheme Exceeds Target
In the first six months of 2024/25, over 4,000 carers, who had not previously accessed the programme, enjoyed a short break via the Carers Trust Wales network of delivery partners. As a result, almost 17,000 unpaid carers have now benefited from the scheme since it was launched in 2022. This means the scheme has already exceeded the target to support 14,000 unpaid carers by 31 March 2025. Thanks to Welsh Government funding, Carers Trust Wales has now provided grants totalling nearly £4 million to a network of over 30 organisations across Wales since the scheme was set up.
Kate Cubbage, Director Carers Trust Wales, says, “We’ve seen what a difference taking a short break can make to a carer’s life and I am therefore delighted that, together with our network of local carers organisations, we have already supported almost 17,000 unpaid carers to take a much-needed break. Thank you to all our network partners, carers organisations and volunteers who have helped make it such a success and supported thousands of unpaid carers across Wales."
Carers Trust President, HRH The Princess Royal, met unpaid carers and caring organisations from across Wales at the Short Breaks Conference on Thursday 3 October. Caring organisations and unpaid carers attended the conference at the Glamorgan County Cricket Club in Cardiff, organised by Carers Trust Wales. The conference highlighted the impact of the Short Breaks Scheme, which has provided an opportunity for more than 13,000 unpaid carers to have a short break away from their caring role.
In the Short Breaks Scheme’s first year, around 17% of unpaid carers who took part chose an overnight break, 14% a day out, 26% a group activity and 43% opted for an individual or micro grant.
Liz Wallis, Programme Lead for the Short Breaks Scheme at Carers Trust Wales, says, "We designed the scheme to be as flexible as possible, allowing our delivery partners to work with carers to choose the break that best fits around their lives and caring situations. It is therefore very rewarding to hear about the wide range of activities carers have undertaken and highlights just how versatile the scheme is.”
Carers Trust Wales invited organisations to apply for funding to deliver the Short Breaks Scheme in Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Newport. As a result of the process, Carers Trust Wales is pleased to announce that it has awarded £169,835 to NEWCIS, All Wales Forum, The Outdoor Partnership and Age Connects Torfaen to support unpaid carers through a short break until the end of March 2025.
Kate Cubbage, Director Carers Trust Wales, comments, “It was a very worrying situation for unpaid carers in south east Wales following the closure of the Care Collective. I’m really pleased that we have been able to offer some support through quickly reallocating funding to four organisations to provide short breaks to carers in this region.”
All four organisations are currently already delivering short breaks activities through the scheme and this additional funding will allow them to support carers in south east Wales. Unpaid carers can access the Short Breaks Scheme website to find breaks in their area.
Interlink Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT), in collaboration with Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil, piloted a project to ensure carers in some of the most deprived areas of Wales could access the Short Breaks Scheme. Kate Cubbage, Director Carers Trust Wales, says, "This project ensured we helped fill a gap in carers' support in areas of Wales that have significant unmet need."
Almost half of carers benefiting from the Short Breaks Scheme accessed support for the first time from the caring organisations delivering the breaks. Of the 11,000 unpaid carers who took part in the Short Breaks Scheme in 2023/24, over 5,000 of them were new to these organisations.
Carers Trust Wales has helped over 11,000 unpaid carers in Wales to take a short break from their caring responsibilities. Thanks to funding from Welsh Government, it has awarded nearly £2 million to charities and Third Sector organisations across Wales to deliver a range of activities through the Short Breaks Scheme.
The Short Breaks Scheme Newsletter shares stories to highlight the impact of the scheme and provides relevant information, good practice and news. It is distributed every other month.
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