Families with disabled children told the Government that their number one priority is regular and reliable short breaks from caring.
Responding to what families told us, most of the funding for Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC) will be spent on short breaks.
Future funding
On 11 December 2010, Sarah Teather announced more than £800 million of funding for short-break provision for 2011-15. These short breaks will offer a range of enjoyable activities for children and young people and provide a valuable break for parents and carers from their caring responsibilities.
To help improve the way short breaks are provided, the Government is also providing £40 million of capital investment in 2011-12. This will help support innovative local services like the Hull bicycle project, which provides adapted bicycles so disabled children can have fun cycling in the park with their friends.
Existing funding
The Department has allocated a total funding package of £370 million for 2008-11 for short breaks. This comprises £280 million in revenue funding announced in May 2007, along with £90 million in capital funding announced with the Children's Plan in December 2008.
Local authority (LA) allocations are supported by £340 million funding for primary care trusts for short breaks, wheelchairs, community equipment and palliative care for children confirmed in the Child Health Strategy.
Twenty-one pathfinder sites have been identified to take forward best practice in the provision of short-break services. These pathfinder sites had significant new funding to improve services from April 2008. Other English LAs that demonstrated their readiness for short-break service transformation received significant new funding for short breaks from April 2009.
Frequently asked questions
A frequently asked questions document has been prepared to support authorities and PCTs in delivering the short breaks programme.It builds on a range of other materials and resources.
