Short Breaks funding extended to more areas

The government has announced today that they are extending the areas taking part in the Short Breaks Innovation Fund programme. The programme provides local authorities with up to £1 million to work with families to develop innovative experiences that would otherwise be inaccessible to children because of their disability, as well as covering the costs of providing the activities. The first year has seen seven local authorities, including Camden, Wakefield and Plymouth, develop innovative programmes to support young people and their families and this work in piloting new approaches will inform national policy to be rolled out more widely. 
The Local Authorities who will receive new funding this year as part of the second year of the programme are:

• Bristol City Council
• Cambridgeshire County Council
• Camden Council
• Derby City Council
• Norfolk County Council
• Nottingham City
• Plymouth City Council
• Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
• Southwark Council
• Suffolk County Council
• Sunderland City Council
• Surrey County Council
• Wakefield Council

Dame Christine Lenehan, Director of Council for Disabled Children said, ‘I am delighted with the Government’s recognition of the value of short breaks to both disabled children and their families. We have seen some really exciting developments in Year 1 of the programme and look forward to seeing what these 10 authorities can deliver. We are keen that the transferrable learning from these innovative projects is shared as widely as possible to ensure children and young people across the country can benefit.’