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.
Funding for individual unpaid carer short breaks is available from the RCTCBC Carers Support Project which can be accessed via the RCT Resident Support referral form. 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.