A funding opportunity has become available for 2024-2025 for community organisations to provide opportunities for unpaid carers to take short breaks from their caring responsibilities.
Key features and values of the fund are:
Supporting life alongside caring - all unpaid carers must have the opportunity to take breaks from their caring role to enable them to maintain their own health and well-being and have a life alongside caring.
The primary aims of the funding are to:
- Increase availability and access for short breaks for unpaid carers.
- Provide the option to personalise the type, time, and content/focus the break takes for the unpaid carer.
- Target unpaid carers who need this the most.
- Build resilience and sustain the carers caring relationships.
The RCTCBC Unpaid Carers Short Breaks Community Fund has been made available to support unpaid carers with a much-needed break to focus on their own health and wellbeing.
The fund is open to Community Groups that are active in Rhondda Cynon Taf and can evidence they have a constitution or Governing Document; and a Bank Account in the name of the organisation with a minimum of 2 separate (unrelated) signatories.
The Unpaid Carers Short Breaks Fund can support two types of activity:
- Activities that are for carers only; activities, events or trips that unpaid carers can access during their short break.
- Activities that are for the unpaid carer and the person being cared for; a “short break” for unpaid carers may come in the form of having other people to talk to and a change of scenery.
This fund is for group activity.
For further information on individual support for unpaid carers, please contact: carerssupportproject@rctcbc.gov.uk / 01443 281463.
For the purposes of this fund, a carer is anyone who cares, unpaid (except for Carers Allowance) for a partner, family member or friend who, due to an illness, frailty, disability, mental health problem or addiction, cannot cope without their support. A Carer can be ANYONE of ANY age.
Grants of up to £2,000 are available. The fund is Revenue only.
Some cost examples could include;
- The costs of the short breaks themselves e.g., activities, travel, overnight accommodation. NB: Any trips need to take place within the boundaries of Rhondda Cynon Taf.
- Entry costs to attractions or facilities etc.
- Contracted/permanent staff costs e.g., salaries, pension and National Insurance contributions, staff travel and subsistence. This can include staff involved in the direct delivery of the project.
- Sessional staff costs e.g., wages, pension and NI contributions, sessional staff travel and subsistence.
- Volunteer costs e.g., travel expenses.
- Transport costs.
- Equipment required for the delivery of the project.
The fund opens on 26th July 2024. There is a total of £34,000 available.
Applications will be assessed and funds awarded on a first come, first served basis until all funds have been allocated. There may be a call for further applications later in the financial year, subject to more funds being made available.
The application form is available for download below:
Application Form
Completed application forms are to be submitted to rcttogether@rctcbc.gov.uk.
Further supplementary documents are available for download below, these may be useful in delivery of projects:
Activity Register
Enrolment Form
Participant Questionnaire
For any queries please email rcttogether@rctcbc.gov.uk or telephone 01443 425368.