Carers Breaks Grant application 2021

Cheshire West and Chester Council together with health partners in the NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group are committed to improving the Health and Wellbeing, and enhancing the overall quality of life, for Carers and the people they care for. The Better Care Fund Framework 2019 - 2020 supports the NHS Long Term Plan in the delivery of integrated health and social care services and supporting delivery of community-based services delivered by Third Sector organisations.

What is a Carer?

Caring means something different to everyone. The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) describes a Carer as "a person who supports and cares for a relative or friend who is living with a disability, long-term illness or has additional daily support needs".

What is a Carer Break?

Being in a caring role is demanding and it is important that Carers can have a break to support with their emotional and physical wellbeing. A Carer Break can take many different forms and is individual to the needs of each person. Carer breaks can be an activity which is with or without the cared for person.

Carers UK identifies that "the regular demands of caring can soon lead to feelings of exhaustion, so it's important to recognise when you need a break. There are lots of different options that can be explored. You may need an hour each week, a day here and there, a week or two for a holiday, or a combination of all of these".

To support the commitment of supporting Carers a Grant Fund has been established which will support Third Sector Organisations to develop and operate 'Carer Breaks Services' for the benefit of Carers who provide regular amounts of care for the person they care for.

Third Sector Organisations are invited to apply for funding awards up to a maximum of £41,500 to support the delivery of 'Carer Breaks Services' between 1st April 2021 and 31st December 2022. Please download the documents from The Chest, www.the-chest.org.uk