In this section you will find information and advice on how to fund your short break. Please note that we cannot verify that any information provided is accurate or indeed relevant to your particular area.
Your first port of call should be your local authority social work department. Clicking here will take you to a website which contains contact details for all local authorities in Scotland.
Citizens Advice Scotland
Citizens Advice Scotland aims:
Your local CA Bureau should be able to advise on potential sources of local funding for short breaks or respite services. Local advisers can also help deal with any problems related to the care assessment process.
Direct Payments
http://www.update.org.uk/Information/Features/Features_DP.htm
This link will take you to information about Direct Payments. Direct Payments can be used, in certain circumstances, to purchase short breaks or respite services.
If your local authority decides that you need community care or children's services it can give you money so that you can arrange and buy the services yourself. This is called Direct Payments.
The first port of call for anyone receiving any care service is assessment. What is different about direct payments is not the assessment process but the means of delivering the care needed. Direct payments are an opportunity for service users and practitioners alike to think more innovatively about care and support,
If your local authority decides that you need community care or children's services, they must offer you direct payments as an alternative to arranging the services for you. If you get direct payments you must use it to arrange services that meet your assessed needs.
Many local authority areas have Direct Payment Support Organisations that can provide assistance and advocacy to a new entrant to a direct payments scheme and support those who already receive benefit through direct payments.
Contact your local authority for details or use the following link (note: some details may be out of date):
www.dpscotland.org.uk/0304dps/dpso/index.asp
The Family Fund
The Family Fund is a registered charity covering the whole of the UK and is funded by the national governments of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The Family Fund provides timely grants to families with severely disabled or seriously ill children, based on families' views and needs.
Family Holiday Associaition
The Family Holiday Association is the only charity in the UK that specialises in helping provide holidays for families and children in need. Since its beginning in 1975, the FHA has helped over 100,000 parents, children and young people to have a holiday.
The Cinema Exhibitor's Association Card
This is a national card that can be used to verify that the holder is entitled to one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema.
To apply for the card, you will need to meet one or more of the following criteria:
a) Be in receipt of the disability living allowance or attendance allowance.
b) Be a registered blind person.
c) Be a holder of a disabled person's rail card. (*See below how to apply)
The card is valid for 3 years from the date of issue.
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