Take a break from your caring role with £500 short breaks funding!

FVA is hosting an open day at Rothes Halls on Monday 5 June between 10 – 4pm where unpaid carers can discover more about these funds, what support the specialist Carers organisations can offer as well as how to apply for the grants.  There will be refreshments available throughout the day, taster sessions on holistic therapies as well as a free prize draw with a caravan break up for grabs!

Short breaks can make a huge difference to carers and the people that they care for by providing the time to rest, to be themselves, to pursue a hobby, catch up with friends or just to relax and recharge. For some people a short break is something that they enjoy having together (the carer and the cared-for person) and for others it is about enjoying quality time apart.

The Creative Breaks application is aimed at unpaid adult carers in Fife and supports them in their highly valued role to enable them to take a short break from their caring responsibilities. The Time for Me application supports unpaid young carers in Fife to access breaks from their caring role. Both applications can award up to £500 towards a break.

Jacquie Mellon (Head of Health and Social Care, FVA) said: "The Creative Breaks and Time for Me applications can make a lasting positive impact to unpaid adult and young carers and the people that they care for.

"We are hosting this information day at The Rothes Halls in Glenrothes on June 5th from 10 – 4pm to reach unpaid carers not currently receiving support as well as to those who may be unsure of how to apply to the fund.

"There will be information stands giving guidance on the breaks and the process to apply as well as examples of breaks and case studies highlighting their impact. We’ll have refreshments and some taster sessions of holistic therapies too.

The short break activities can be anything that the unpaid carer wants it to be, so long as it provides them with a break from their caring responsibilities. So, a few nights away, a session of driving lessons, a sewing machine for their crafting hobby, laptops, therapeutic therapy sessions, anything at all - the ideas all come from the carers!"

Some examples of how carers have used short breaks (both Creative Breaks and Time for Me) funding in the past include:

• Caravan holidays
• Therapeutic treatments
• Overnight hotel stays
• Driving lessons
• Gym or cinema passes
• Computing equipment
• Transport costs
• Hobby costs

This list is NOT exhaustive, and for more information please visit: www.fva.org/carers