During this period of uncertainty and lockdown, it is important that those in a caring role are still able to take regular breaks in order to look after their own health and wellbeing.

Our Time to Live Short Break grants are are available to anyone providing a significant care to someone over 21 years or to young carers. We class young carers as children or young people between the ages of 5 and 18 years who look after someone in their family and takes on the practical or emotional caring responsibilities that an adult would normally do.

Over the coming weeks it is inevitable that short breaks services will not be running as normal, if at all. All over the world organisations are looking at how they can deliver things differently and there are some fantastic, creative examples of how this is happening.

Shared Care Scotland, who fund our Time to Live grant scheme, have pulled together a list of short breaks that can be taken during this period of lockdown. These include everything from online courses, virtual museums, exercise programmes, read-alongs, and websites for children and young people, as well as support services that are delivering online and this be viewed here. With many carers will now find themselves unable to access short breaks opportunities out with their home, Time to Live grants can be used in creative ways which can still offer a carer a break. This could, for example, include subscriptions to magazines or puzzle books, online personal training sessions, craft equipment, musical instruments, gym equipment etc that could all be used in the home.

Other ideas could be a magazine or Netflix subscription or equipment to do a hobby at home, such a gym equipment or art materials – whatever allows you to have regular breaks from your caring role and time out for you.

You can apply for a short break grant at here.