The Creative Breaks programme provides 12 month grants to third sector organisations to develop and deliver short breaks projects and services for carers. Creative Breaks is a funding programme of the Short Breaks Fund, operated by Shared Care Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.

The purpose of the Short Breaks Fund is to increase the range, availability, and choice of short breaks for carers and those they care for across Scotland. The Short Breaks Fund aims to make a lasting positive impact to carers and the people that they care for, to funded organisations, and to wider short breaks policy and practice.

The Creative Breaks programme provides grant funding to third sector organisations to develop and deliver short breaks projects and services for unpaid carers of adults (aged 21 years and over) and young carers (caring for children or adults), and the people that they care for. For the purposes of determining eligibility, the meaning of (adult) carer and young carer is defined by the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016

The Creative Breaks programme funds a wide range of different short breaks activities including breaks away, days out, and/or regular activities. To be eligible for Creative Breaks funding, activities must be designed to enable carers to have a life outside or alongside their caring role, and to support their health and wellbeing. Short break activities can be for the carers, for the people they care for, or for both the carers and the cared-for people to enjoy together. To be eligible for Creative Breaks funding, projects must be able to evidence how their activities will benefit both the carers and the people they care for, by providing a break from their normal routine. This applies even if only one party participates in the activity eg the cared-for person attends a weekly social club. In this example, the project must demonstrate how the cared-for person attending the club provides a meaningful short break for the carer that meets their needs.

For more information on the fund and eligibility to apply go to
https://www.sharedcarescotland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Creative-Breaks-2023-Guidance-Notes-FINAL.pdf

For further information, please contact amanda.moffat@sharedcarescotland.com (Amanda Moffat), or visit https://www.sharedcarescotland.org.uk/creativebreaks/