News from The Family Fund, The Wilf Ward Family Trust and KIDS Direct Short Breaks

New way for local authorities to give disabled children's families a holiday break

Local authorities are being urged to offer disabled children's families a rare chance to take a holiday together as a whole family through "Giving Short Breaks a little extra". This wrap-around programme combines local authority funding for short breaks with expert support from disabled children's charities The Family Fund, KIDS Direct Short Breaks and the Wilf Ward Family Trust.

A pilot scheme with the London Borough of Enfield's Joint Children's Services earlier this year enabled families to enjoy short breaks at Haven holiday parks in North Yorkshire. It was a tremendous success and the programme is now being extended to all local authorities across England who are passionate about enhancing short break provision for disabled children.

As a result, families with disabled children will get the care and support they need to enable them to enjoy short breaks while taking a holiday together in Haven holiday parks in North Yorkshire and Sussex.

Without this additional support for their disabled child, it is difficult for families with disabled children to holiday as a whole family.

Janet Leach, Head of Enfield Children's Services, said: "For many families with a disabled child, the idea of going on holiday 'all together' can seem impossible. The pilot has provided families with a real opportunity to do something 'ordinary' - enjoy holiday time together. Working with the Family Fund and Wilf Ward has been fabulous, a real partnership and genuine sharing of skills and expertise."

Families love it :

One mother participating in the Enfield pilot said, "It is like winning the lottery to have a holiday together as a family. We have never had a holiday before and to have care and support away from home is amazing."

Another said, "I was able to have a holiday like many other families. Our carer was fantastic. I even had a night out!"

A third added, "I had a precious moment, sitting with a cup of tea, playing with my other children, whilst our carer supported my son who is disabled. I can't remember the last time I did that."

Wrap-around package

With "Giving Short Breaks a little extra, the local authority funds the short break element under the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme.

The family pays for the holiday but gets a discount by booking through Family Fund extra. Support on the ground for children and families is provided by KIDS Direct Short Breaks and The Wilf Ward Family Trust.

Cheryl Ward, the Family Fund's Commercial Director said, "This is an exciting opportunity for local authorities to transform their short break provision in partnership with the third sector. Where possible, the Family Fund will also provide a grant to help families and contribute to the holiday costs."

Local authorities who want to know more about "Giving Short Breaks a little extra" should contact Cheryl Ward on cwa@familyfund.org.uk

Notes to Editors

1. For further information for journalists, please contact the Family Fund's Commercial Director Cheryl Ward on 01904 550800 or KIDS Direct Short Breaks Director Emma Clarke on 0845 453 1000.

2. "Giving Short Breaks a little extra" is a joint programme developed and run by Family Fund extra, KIDS Direct Short Breaks and the Wilf Ward Family Trust.

3. Family Fund extra is a free-to-join buying club that offers discounts to all disabled children's families on thousands of goods and services, including family holidays. It is part of national disabled children's charity the Family Fund, which makes £30.5 million worth of grants to 50,000 severely disabled children and their families a year for items such as family holidays, washing machines and driers, driving lessons, hospital visiting costs, computers, clothing and bedding.

4. The KIDS Direct Short Breaks service uses the latest internet and mobile phone technology to enables parents to access short breaks through a secure, easy-to-use website. The service links parents to fully trained, enhanced Criminal Records Bureau-checked workers who can deliver positive, inclusive experiences for disabled children and young people while their parents take a break.

5. The Wilf Ward Family Trust offers a range of short break and holidays services to children and young people with disabilities. The Trust provides social care services to children, adults and older people with health or disability needs and is a major employer in social care in the North Yorkshire region, with over 1,100 staff working across more than 70 individual services.

5. Aiming High for Disabled Children, launched in May 2007, is the government's programme to transform disabled children's services. Under the programme, the Department of Children, Schools and Families has allocated £370 million to local authorities to provide short breaks for disabled children's families in 2008-11. Primary Care Trusts have also received significant short breaks funding from NHS allocations.

For immediate release, 10 July 2009