Creative Breaks Time to Live

Eligibility Criteria

All applicants must be carers who are caring for an adult (aged 21 or over) or young carers who are being supported by a young carers organisation. A carer provides unpaid care to a family member, partner, relative or friend who needs help to manage a long term condition, disability, physical or mental ill health or addiction.  The fund will target those carers who are less likely to access traditional services, those who are under most stress and also those in most need of a short break.

For professionals completing with carer please check with Lanarkshire Carers if the applicant has received other funding within the last 36 months.

The following eligibility criteria should also be met by anyone wishing to make an application:

• The carer lives in Lanarkshire and provides regular unpaid care as above
• The carer (and/or the cared for) is able to make the necessary arrangements for the break

Applications will be considered for recently bereaved carers who:

• Met the eligibility criteria whilst caring, but were unable to take a break due to the demands of their caring role
• Have accessed support through Lanarkshire Carers within the last 12 months

Due to demand and the limited nature of this fund, in addition to assessing applications against the above criteria the panel may prioritise applications where:

• The applicant has not accessed this fund before
• Little or no immediate support is available from another source
• The carer finds it difficult to cope and may be unable to continue in their caring roles without intervention
• The carer can demonstrate that they would otherwise find it difficult, or impossible, to take a break due to financial circumstances
• The short break opportunity is cost effective and/or can be sustained over a period of time

Aims and Priorities

Creative Breaks Time to Live funding has the following aims:

• Carers and those they care for will have improved physical and emotional wellbeing
• Carers will have more opportunity to have a life outside of caring
• Carers will be better able to sustain their caring role
• Carers will be able to take more control of their life

Applicants can apply for up to £250 and are encouraged to think creatively in relation to short break opportunities. If successful payment will be made by Lanarkshire Carers directly by BACS payment.

The Panel Process

The panel includes carer representative, member of the Lanarkshire Carers Board of Directors and Management Team.  Applications can be received throughout the funding cycle and the decision making panel will meet once a month.

Applications must be endorsed by Lanarkshire Carers or a professional supporting you (the carer) with your caring role. Applications should be submitted by the 28th of each month for consideration by the panel that will meet around 2/3 weeks after that. Applicants will normally be informed of the decision within 7 days of the panel meeting. If for any reason the panel is unable to meet, applications will be held over until the following month and applicants informed.

Payment for any award approved will be by BACS and will take at least four weeks from the date of panel to be paid.  No telephone calls will be taken by the administration team until the four week period has passed.

Terms and Conditions

The following Terms and Conditions apply to all applicants:

• A minimum of thirty six months since any previous short break grant was received.
• All information provided on the application form must be accurate at the time of signing
• Carers have to be providing care in a community setting e.g. domestic home, not residential care
• The carer must sign a Creative Breaks Time to Live Award Agreement Form if the award is successful.
• The panel reserves the right to ask for additional information as part of the assessment process, if required
• Creative Breaks Time to Live should only be used for short breaks and other suitable opportunities that enable carers to take a break from caring. It cannot be used to part fund family holidays abroad or to subsidise larger, more expensive breaks.
• If the cost of the short break exceeds the maximum grant amount, you will be asked how the additional cost of the break will be covered. 
• Using numerous grant sources to fund a short break opportunity will not be supported through this fund.  Your application may be rejected if you have obtained or have access to funding from elsewhere, including statutory services to enable you to take a break from caring.
• Carers agree to take part in evaluation if they are successful with an application.  This involves the carer completing a short questionnaire after they use their grant to help assess the impact of the grant
• Carers must provide proof of purchase e.g. receipts or invoices
• Lanarkshire Carers may use anonymised information given by carers for the purposes of reporting to Shared Care Scotland, and promotion of the fund
• Any photographs that are sent to Lanarkshire Carers as part of the evaluation process by individuals who have received grants may be used for the purposes of promoting the fund or for reporting to Shared Care Scotland
• The success and amount of any grant will be dependent upon availability of funding
• Carers should note that failure to produce receipts may have negative impact on any future applications
• A maximum of twenty three applications will be heard at each panel and if there are more, some will be held over until the following month’s panel.
• The panel will not pay retrospectively for any short break, therefore a break cannot be booked until payment has been made.
• Lanarkshire Carers cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage caused as a result of using this fund to arrange a short break.
• Only one application per cared for to be submitted. Preference will be given to the main carer.
• This fund is not open to kinship carers
• It is the responsibility of the applicant to arrange the short break opportunity and any relevant insurances, if applicable.
• If the application is unsuccessful at the panel, carers cannot apply again until a full 12 months have passed.
• An adult carer support plan with a relevant outcome (adult carers only) or a supporting statment is usually required to support your short break application.
• The panel’s decision is final. If you are not satisfied with the decision made you should refer to Lanarkshire Carers's complaints procedures.
• In signing the form the carer is consenting to the information provided being stored and processed by Lanarkshire Carers and shared with panel members for the purposes of decision making, evaluation and reporting.
• Lanarkshire Carers reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time.

Last updated: December 2019

Please contact Lanarkshire Carers in the first instance and we can support you to apply for Creative Breaks Time to Live funding:

• South Lanarkshire: Please contact our Hamilton Centre on 01698 428090
• North Lanarkshire: Please contact our Airdire Centre on 01236 755550

Please call us on 01698 428090 / 01236 755550 and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Alternatively, please complete our Online Enquiry Form and we will respond as soon as possible.

These useful search engines allow you to search for a short break that meets your needs:

North Lanarkshire

Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire (VANL) Locator Tool

South Lanarkshire

Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire (VASLAN) Locator Tool

Scotland

Shared Care Scotland Short Breaks Search

Euans Guide

https://www.euansguide.com/