Breaks and support

• Unpaid carers: anyone who looks after a family member, friend, or neighbour due to illness, disability, mental health challenges, or substance use.
• Cared-for people: those receiving care, including children, adults, or older people.

• Traditional respite: the cared-for person stays in a care home or residential facility.
• Home-based support: a support worker looks after the cared-for person at home, allowing the carer time off.
• Day care services: community-based day care with structured activities.
• Activity groups and clubs: social groups for cared-for people while the carer takes a break.
• Alternative and creative breaks: flexible breaks such as leisure activities, supported holidays or wellbeing grants.

1. Carer Support Plan (Adult or Young Carer Statement): this helps identify what kind of break would be beneficial.
2. Eligibility criteria: support is based on need, not income. Carers can access universal services, and those with higher needs may be eligible for funded breaks.
3. Self-Directed Support (SDS) options:
1. Direct Payment: receive money to arrange your own break.
2. Individual Service Fund: choose services, but funds are managed for you.
3. Local authority arranges the service.
4. A mix of the above options.

If a crisis arises, carers can access emergency support. Planning ahead with an emergency plan can help prevent stress in urgent situations.

Want to find out more about emergency support?

• visit Connecting Carers or call 01463 723 575
• Enable Scotland provides emergency planning resources
• Mobilise provides an emergency planning template

• Carers should not be charged for support provided to them.
• Funding options include grants like the Time 2 Be Fund, Wee Treat Grant and Wellbeing Fund.
• Some short breaks for the cared-for person may have costs.

• Open to adult carers in Highland.
• Carers do not need to receive Carer Support Payment (Carer’s Allowance) to apply.

Requirements

• Carers can only apply once per year.
• The funding is available every three months, and each period has a limited amount.
• The application must clearly show how the funding will help the carer, not the person they care for.

Please note that that access to this fund will be needs-assessed, and therefore only accessible if you meet the criteria.

• Applications need to come from a professional who can refer you.
• Make sure all sections of the application are filled in correctly, including your bank details, and that it reflects the person’s needs.
• The fund is open for applications every three months, with set deadlines.

Help

For help applying, you can contact any of the following professionals who can refer you:

• Alzheimer Scotland
• Carr Gomm (​Community Contacts)
• Change Mental Health
• Connecting Carers
• Thriving Families
• Highland Council
• NHS Social Work
• Community psychiatric nurses