Services - Short Breaks

For all enquiries about our short break opportunities, contact Melissa on 07535 469 327 or email melissa@carerswd.org

Time For Me

Our Time for Me Project, which is funded by the Scottish Government’s Short Breaks Fund, provides small grants to carers to support them to have a break from their caring responsibilities. The grant can be used to help fund a short break away from the stresses of everyday life, either for the carer and the person that they are caring for, or for the carer themselves.

Our aim is to be flexible and responsive to carers’ needs – we would encourage you to think about what you feel would really benefit you and what outcomes you would like to achieve from having the break. Some examples of previously awarded grants include overnight spa breaks and complementary therapies. If “going away” is not be possible or doesn’t appeal to you – it does not mean you cannot apply. You can apply for something that allows you to have a break at home e.g. devices, hobby craft materials, walking gear, etc.

If you feel you need a break and think that Time for Me can help, especially if you have not applied in the past, please get in touch. We would encourage applications from those within more hidden carer groups e.g. minority ethnic communities and carers of those affected by addiction or mental health. We also welcome applications from young carers and work in partnership with colleagues at Y Sort It to administer these.

Out of the Blue

In partnership with West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership, we have established a replacement care service that offers help to carers to attend those events which crop up from time to time if they cannot leave the person that they are caring for.

Out of the Blue is non-prescriptive and flexible, which means we want carers to tell us what is important to them and what would help meet their own personal outcomes. Eligible carers can access at home replacement care sessions which will be purchased by Carers of West Dunbartonshire from a variety of care providers. If a care provider is already being used as part of the care package, we will try in the first instance to book the additional hours with that care provider.

The aim of the project is to give carers the opportunity to do things that other people take for granted and to have a life outside of their caring role. Some examples of how carers can use Out of the Blue are:

• To be able to attend a social event with family or friends.
• To take care of their own health and well-being i.e. by attending a health appointment or therapy session
• To attend a training course or hobby classes