For many, the Easter break is a welcome opportunity to enjoy springtime activities, reconnect with family and friends, or embark on exciting trips. Schools close, families travel, and memories are made. However, for unpaid carers, the holidays can amplify the challenges they face.
The holidays, while joyous for some, can be overwhelming for those who bear the weight of caregiving responsibilities. The Short Breaks Scheme can offer some support and respite.
While others revel in their downtime, the absence of school routines and support during the Easter holidays can leave carers struggling to manage increased responsibilities. For young carers who rely on school for social interaction and support, the break can mean losing vital connections and resources and it can be a particularly isolating time.
One
young carer said: “I feel bad for taking breaks and when I have time for myself I’m always thinking that I could be doing something else to help out. It’s isolating because I can’t meet up with friends. I can text but it’s just not the same. Everyone’s planning their holidays and trips but I know I can’t go on holiday.”
Parent carers face the compounded burden of managing care as their usual structures of care and support disappear, with children home full-time. They are juggling multiple responsibilities without adequate support.
Thanks to the continued funding from Welsh Government, the Short Breaks Scheme can offer a lifeline to unpaid carers during these challenging times. Supported by a network of 27 carers’ organisations across Wales, it provides access to a flexible range of activities and short breaks.
For young carers, this could be enriching and exciting experiences in safe and structured environments. For parent carers, it might be a few precious hours or days to recharge, reconnect with themselves, or simply rest without worry that can make all the difference.
The break can be something the carer does on their own, or with the person they care for, or even involve the whole family. Funding can also help provide replacement care to enable a carer to enjoy a break of their choice knowing the person they care for is in safe hands.
DAFFODILS ‘enjoy a break’ project has supported unpaid parent carers in Flintshire to enjoy a wide variety of breaks, mainly during the school and college holidays, when carers most need the support.
One mother of four and primary caregiver for her eight-year-old guardian says,
I didn’t realise how much I was running on empty until I finally had a chance to slow down.
The time on the short break excursions allowed her to reflect on her caregiving role and how she could better manage the demands moving forward. Her anxiety, which had been building over the years, has reduced. She realised that to sustain her caregiving relationship, it was great to be involved on a weekly basis in the holidays, spending time with such a supportive group of people in similar situations.
Easter, while a time of renewal and celebration for many, brings unique challenges to unpaid carers. Support systems like the Short Breaks Scheme remind us that unpaid carers deserve a break, ensuring they, too, can find moments of relief and relaxation during the holiday period.
If you or someone you know is an unpaid carer facing holiday challenges, reaching out to one of our local carers’ organisation in your area could provide the much-needed support to get through these tough periods.