All Wales Forum is coordinating short breaks for carers of people with learning disabilities and complex needs, based across Wales. Through its project, ‘Seibiant’, it is supporting carers who can benefit from a ‘respitality’ break, connecting them to the hospitality and leisure sector. Using this model allows them to coordinate breaks based around the unique needs of carers and their families, where other more traditional respite approaches are not so appropriate.
All Wales Forum says, “The flexibility of having a small grant has given families the opportunity to be creative and really think about what a meaningful break means to them. This approach has been overwhelmingly effective. Quite often, families don’t even use the whole budget, with a ‘take what’s needed’ approach, demonstrating a clear difference from the conventional narrative. We’ve also been pleased to see businesses making accommodating changes for families, be it adaptions, discounts or other changes.”
One carer who took part in a short break said, ‘After our day trip, I felt less isolated, and I also felt that I belonged to a group of fellow carers who understood the pressures of caring. This has helped me to understand and appreciate the pressure of caring and that help is there if needed, to enable me to continue my caring role in the future. Sometimes you just need a break to be able to see the way ahead. We have even set up a group chat to keep in contact and support each other in the days to come.’
Another carer said,
Having time to laugh, to have fun and switch off from your caring role for the day was invaluable. Sharing it with others who understand is a wonderful additional benefit.
Rachel*, a parent carer, faces numerous challenges in her daily life. Not only does she provide care and support for her child with a learning disability and complex health needs, but she also has additional caring responsibilities for her husband who has health issues. The constant responsibilities and demands often leave Rachel feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. However, due to the nature of their child's condition, going on a break without them would cause her immense stress and worry.
Seibiant funding enabled Rachel and her family to access a much-needed break away together in Tenby, a picturesque coastal town in Wales. The funding not only covered the accommodation expenses but also provided additional support, tailored to their specific needs. One of the highlights of their break was the opportunity to witness the annual Ironman event from their accommodation balcony. This experience allowed the family to enjoy the thrilling atmosphere and excitement of the event, while ensuring the safety and comfort of their loved one.
This break provided Rachel with a much-needed respite from the daily routine, allowing her to recharge and rejuvenate. It also gave the whole family a change of scenery and the opportunity to spend quality time together.
Tracy, Rhian, Lucy and Rhian, four unpaid parent carers from Monmouthshire, tell us about their group short break.
“Four of us unpaid parent carers had the opportunity to go on a two 24-hour carers break to the Celtic Manor Resort in South Wales. We all struggle to get away on our own and when we were offered this break, we were all very emotional and excited. All four of us shed a tear of gratitude!
“We had an amazing 24 hours of relaxation, time spent with each other, and time for ourselves - which was important because this is so rare in our lives. To be looked after and pampered was a rare treat and the break was just perfect! We all finished the first break feeling rejuvenated to return to our caring roles, but also knowing it wasn’t a one-off was the best feeling.”
One of the carer's said, “I felt physically and mentally lighter after the break. Just the thought of the break coming up kept me going through some very full-on days with my little one. It was so amazing to be treated and looked after by someone else as well! The hotel and staff were amazing. It was also great to get away with others and have fun with some great ladies who understood what life is like being a carer and how important these breaks are.”
“We loved every second - we laughed, we cried, we relaxed, we partied - we all needed and benefited from a little bit of everything - thank you so very much.”
Parent carer, Anna*, from Pembrokeshire, struggles to ever take a break, as the need for flexibility and the assurance that her child’s care needs are met, pose a significant barrier to accessing traditional respite services.
Due to these difficult demands, Anna used her Seibiant funding to purchase vouchers for a local hotel that offered regular craft sessions. This approach allowed her to plan short breaks of up to two hours, as and when time allowed, ensuring minimal disruption to her caring routine.
The craft sessions have provided me with a creative outlet and a much-needed respite from my daily caregiving responsibilities
The regular craft sessions provide a welcome outlet to switch off from the daily caregiving routine and give Anna something to look forward to, positively impacting her overall well-being.
"I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to use my Seibiant funding to access vouchers for craft sessions at a local hotel. It has given me the flexibility to take short breaks and relax, knowing that my child’s care needs are still being met."
This tailored approach that the All Wales Forum project takes, ensures that parent carers can take a break without compromising the well-being of their loved ones. All Wales Forum has also found that through working with hospitality sector partners, it has created useful links to continue conversations about future breaks for family carers; an unanticipated positive outcome!
*Names are changed to protect privacy
Demand for short breaks funded by the Short Breaks Scheme is very high. This delivery partner has now reached its capacity for this funding period and is not currently taking applications for short breaks from new clients. Please consider reviewing other organisations in your area offering the Short Breaks Scheme or visit the Carers Trust main website to see what support for unpaid carers is available in your area.