Short Break Activities for Children with a Disability – Small Grant Fund 2023-2025

Provision of Short Breaks for carers of disabled children is a statutory duty since April 2011 under The Breaks for Carers Regulations 2011

The Hampshire County Council Short Break Activity Programme:

  • provides parents or carers with a break in their caring role enabling them to pursue education, training, leisure activities, day-to-day tasks and to meet the needs of other children in the family more effectively
  • enables children and young people with disabilities and/or additional needs to join in with safe, fun and interesting activities
  • can include a place at a specialist playscheme or activity specifically for children and young people with moderate or complex needs
  • Supports children and young people to access mainstream activities and clubs
Who are Short Break Activities for?

The grant is for activity providers to support disabled children and young people who:

  • require support to participate in leisure and recreation activities
  • are aged between 0 and 17 years
  • live in the Hampshire County Council area
  • have a Gateway Card+ which identifies that they have a disability and/or additional needs and requires support to access activities
Small Grant Fund

Providers may apply to the Small Grant Fund for a grant towards meeting the additional costs of supporting children and young people with a Gateway Card+ to attend their club or activity. Suggestions as to what potential grant fund could be used for:

  • additional training for staff to ensure that your club or activity is fully inclusive
  • a contribution to funding for a pilot scheme to be run for a club or activity
  • a contribution to an existing club to ensure it is fully inclusive for Gateway Card+ holders

Providers will need to evidence demand via an application form and include the following key information:

  • What the service/proposed activity is or training required for staff, including full details of what will be delivered
  • The number and age of the children and/or young people who will benefit
  • Where the service/activity will take place i.e. venue and district location
  • The costs associated with the service/activity including other sources of income received or being sought
Funding
  • The Small Grant Fund annual budget is £20,000
  • Funding will run for 2 years or until all the funds have been allocated
  • Application value must not exceed £5,000
  • Multiple applications throughout the grant period will not be considered

Applications will be considered by a panel as and when applications are submitted. Providers must ensure that applications are received in advance of the activity/service beginning. Retrospective applications will not be considered.

The grant round is currently active and the last date for applications to be received will be 02 January 2025 (date subject to change or until the funds have been allocated).

What we can’t fund
  • 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
  • After school clubs
  • Children and young people who have a Gateway Card instead of Gateway Card+
  • Individuals
  • Organisations already commissioned for the same project/service via a contract or grant agreement from Hampshire County Council
  • Overhead and management costs that exceed 10% of the total grant amount applied for
  • Funding towards resources such as computers, mobile phones, transport or capital investment
When and how to apply

All applications must be made via In-Tend, the Council’s procurement system. The portal will be open for a period of 24 months opening on the 3 May 2023 and closing at 12 noon on 2 January 2025 or until the funds have been allocated.

In-Tend guidance for providers

Sustainability

Action Hampshire has written a briefing note on sustainability – we strongly recommend this document is read, prior to submitting your application.

Short Breaks Sustainability Guidance

Further information

Contact the Procurement, Commissioning and Placements Team

Phone 03707 793569
Email: [email protected]