Falkirk West MSP and Public Health Minister Michael Matheson has announced an extra £250,000 of funding to provide short breaks for disabled children and their families, carers and young carers. This investment has been divided equally between Shared Care Scotland and the Family Fund.
The money is on top of £2 million already committed to the Better Breaks and Take a Break programmes for 2013-14.
• The Better Breaks programme is managed by Shared Care Scotland and provides grants to third sector organisations to develop short break services for disabled children and their families.
• Take a Break, managed by The Family Fund, helps to support children and young people with disabilities, and their parent carers in Scotland. A ‘take a break’ grant can be used towards a break, holiday, outing, or any other activity in the UK or overseas.
Carers can apply for short holidays to give them some rest and relaxation away from their regular responsibilities. The programme is part of the £112 million the Scottish Government has invested in supporting carers since 2007.
Mr Matheson said: “I’m delighted that this investment will help many more families in the Falkirk area to enjoy some valuable rest and relaxation. I also know from my discussions at the Falkirk Carers Centre that carers find it invaluable to be able to take breaks, even if just for a day or two.
“More people than ever before are now acting as full-time carers, looking after loved-ones, often around the clock and seven days a week. They are all making a tremendous contribution to society, and that’s why the Scottish Government has invested more than £112 million between 2007 and 2015 to support carers and young carers.”
