14th February 2010

• If you are the parent or carer of a disabled child, live in Sheffield and receive the high rate of DLA or the high rate mobility component of DLA, you should be entitled to a “Short Breaks Grant” – a one-off payment of up to £370 per family, to spend on a holiday or short break activity of your choice. Even if these criteria do not apply to you, you may still be eligible for a Short Breaks Grant.

  The grant money can be used very flexibly, e.g. to extend an existing holiday scheme, to pay for car hire, or to purchase membership at a health club.

  Applications must be received by 30th December 2010, and the money must be used prior to 31st March 2011.

  Please follow the links to download an guidance notes. For more information, please contact Catherine Calton on 0114 2398336 or email catherine.calton@sheffield.gov.uk.

  Being in receipt of Short Breaks Grant funding does NOT preclude families from accessing other short breaks services, such as SNIPS playcare services, overnight respite care, home-based services, befriending schemes, direct payments, etc. Eligibility for these services is based on the needs of the child and the impact on the family as a whole, and may or may not require an assessment.

  For more information on the range of short breaks services currently available, please contact SIGN on 0114 2669476 or download an information sheet on short breaks.