Short Breaks for Disabled Children

Providing activities for children with disabilities and/or additional needs

Under the Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011, local authorities have a statutory duty to provide short breaks for carers of disabled children.

Hampshire County Council’s Short Breaks programme aims to:

  • help children and young people (0-17) with disabilities and/or additional needs to access safe and enjoyable activities
  • give parents or carers a break from caring responsibilities

Short Breaks can last a few hours to a full day and may take place during the day or in the evening.

About Short Breaks grants

A Short Breaks Grant provided by Hampshire County Council is a contribution towards the cost of delivering Short Break Activities for children and young people who meet all the following criteria:

  • have a disability and/or additional needs that mean they require support to participate in leisure and recreation activities
  • are aged between 0 to 17 years
  • live in the Hampshire County Council area (excluding Portsmouth and Southampton)
  • Hold a Gateway Card +

The grant supports holiday, weekend and youth clubs by contributing towards activity delivery costs only and is not intended to fully fund projects or replace an organisation’s core funding.

Eligibility for Funding

Funding is awarded for a set period and must be used for the agreed purpose, in accordance with the eligibility, spending and monitoring requirements outlined in the Short Breaks Grant Prospectus document.

To be eligible for support, Short Break Providers must, as a minimum:

  • Deliver holiday, weekend or youth club activities
  • Show how their service provides a short break for parents/carers.
  • Meet the needs of children and young people aged 0-17 with disabilities and/or additional needs
  • Benefit Hampshire children and young people who hold a Gateway Card+
  • Have appropriate safeguarding, health and safety, and diversity and inclusion policies in place.
  • Ensure all staff and volunteers have an up-to-date DBS clearance and appropriate training, including mandatory Safeguarding training
  • Meet grant reporting and monitoring requirements
  • Demonstrate financial sustainability and, secure additional funding or in-kind support.
  • Promote activities through the Hampshire SEND Local Offer
  • Follow the Charge and Concessionary Policy
  • Have appropriate insurance in place

For full details and to ensure you are meeting all eligibility requirements please refer to Short Breaks Grant Prospectus document.

Please note we cannot provide funding for:

  • Children and young people who live outside of the Hampshire County Council area
  • young people aged 18 years and over
  • activities where parents/carers are required to stay
  • swimming lessons
  • Children and young people who don’t hold a Gateway+ Card
When and how to apply
Applications for the 2027/28 Short Breaks Grant Programme are now closed.

Organisations interested in delivering Short Break activities for disabled children and young people in Hampshire can register their interest by completing the Short Breaks Expression of Interest Form.

Before submitting an Expression of Interest, organisations should carefully review the current:

  • Short Breaks Grant Prospectus
  • Charging and Concessions Policy

These documents set out the programme aims, eligibility criteria, funding requirements and provider expectations.

When the next funding round opens, organisations will be required to complete a grant application. Applications typically include:

  • Information about your organisation and governance arrangements
  • Details of the activities and support you propose to deliver
  • Information about the children and young people who will benefit
  • Staffing, safeguarding and workforce information
  • Charging and concessions arrangements
  • A financial breakdown of delivery costs and funding requested

Please note: The Grant Prospectus, Charging and Concessions Policy and application requirements are reviewed before each funding round and may be amended.

Submitting an Expression of Interest does not constitute an application for funding. It simply allows Hampshire County Council to record your interest and contact you when the next Short Breaks Grant round opens.

The Short Breaks Team will contact organisations that have registered an Expression of Interest when information about the next funding round becomes available.

Grant Expectations

If your application is successful, you will be required to sign a grant agreement, which will confirm your acceptance to:

  • Provide regular monitoring reports when requested
  • Track Gateway Card+ attendance
  • Provide information regarding waiting lists and concessionary rates
  • Provide feedback on outcomes, the impact of the activities, and the experiences of children and their parents/carers.
  • Receive in-person monitoring visits while activities are taking place
Useful links