Short Breaks/Time Out

Short Breaks and Time Out

For many, caring is a very rewarding experience, however, it can also be tiring and stressful.

Short breaks are one way of helping you to cope with the day to day responsibilities of being a carer.

The Borders Carers Centre will advise on short break options that may suit your needs. They may also be able to search on your behalf for funding which may be available to help finance your short break. Please also see below for useful links and ideas.

You may also be eligible to apply for the Borders Carers Centre Time to Live fund. Click here to apply.

We are also happy to give you information about local private care providers as well as local therapists who may offer discounts to carers, or be happy to accept our therapy vouchers. Please see here.

There is currently very reduced access to respite opportunities, and this has had a huge impact on carers. The Borders Carers Centre have received funding to offer a counselling service to carers, and it is hoped that this will enable you to develop and maintain coping strategies, enhancing psychological well-being and providing you with some of the necessary tools to meet the ongoing challenges. For more information about this service, 'Me First', see here.

Calendar of Activities
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Speak to the Borders Carers Centre to hear about the different types of Short Breaks you can take.

Every so often, the Borders Carers Centre will take a group of carers away on a respite break to help them recharge their batteries, allowing them to return to their loved ones feeling refreshed and more able to cope.

A recent 2 night trip to Castle of Park, Glenluce. Funded by The Landmark Trust and The Carers Centre

Photographs courtesy of carer, Hazel, who recently took a break on the beautiful Isle of Arran

You may also search here for specific breaks

Also search here for holidays specifically aimed at families and children with specific needs

Name of Provider	Details
Shared Care Scotland	Website here or call 01383 622 462
Care for Carers Stepping Out	Website here or call 0131 661 2077
Quiet Places	Website here or call 07934504175
Dementia friendly days out - app	Free app to download
Salvation Army	Access to a caravan holiday at Southerness Holiday Park for carers @ £30 per week. See here for more details, then contact us to make a referral on your behalf. Please note that you may need to make bookings a year in advance.
Mind For You holidays	Website here or call 01509 351008
Calvert Trust Keilder	Website here
The Lin Berwick Trust	Website here
Leuchie House	Website here or call 01620 892864
Altogether Travel	Supported Holidays for people, families and individuals with learning, physical or sensory disabilities

Short Breaks and discounts

Type of discount	Further information (please note: Many of these National offers are only available online)
Carers travel free If the person you care for has a National Entitlement Card and they need your help when they travel by bus then you will be able to travel with them for free.	Website here
National Trust has an ‘Access for all Admit One Card’ that allows you free entry if you are with the person you care for.	Website here or call 0344 800 1895
Merlin annual pass has a complimentary pass for carers.	Website here
English Heritage has free admission for carers who are supporting the person they care for during their visit.	Website here
Cinema CEA card An annual card you pay for that gets a carer a free ticket when they accompany the person they care for.	Website here

If you are a Parent Carer, you will also find other links to holidays, respite and days out here.

Please also see our Respitality page here.

Respitality Scotland aims to connect local organisations that support unpaid carers with hospitality and leisure providers, such as hotels, leisure clubs, activity centres etc.
The Borders Carers Centre have signed up as Respitality Delivery Partner in partnership with Shared Care Scotland.

We’re pleased Carefreebreaks have chosen the Borders Carers Centre to help facilitate holiday offers and look forward to being able to offer more choice for carers to have a short break.

Carers must be caring for 35 hrs+ per week, have their own email address and be prepared to pay a £25 admin fee (only paid when actually booking a break)

Carefreebreaks offers 3-night or 7-night breaks for unpaid carers in rental accommodation such as holiday cottages or hotels donated by owners and operators, usually during the low season or mid-week. The scheme is specifically designed to give the carer a break from their caring responsibilities.

A carer may invite someone to accompany them on the break but NOT the person that they care for. Please contact us for more information

Download short breaks info here

3. What to expect when you are considering a short break
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SBC Short Breaks Statement
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Discounted Days Out/entry to visitor attractions

Visitor attractions and leisure facilities may offer discounts to you and the person you care for. Get in touch with them before you go and find out what help they can offer you. See free entry for carers to visitor attractions.

Many places won’t ask for proof that you are a carer or they may just ask you a few questions to check. Others will ask to see a copy of a letter that says which disability benefits the person you care for gets, or if you get Carer’s Allowance. As you might need to use this letter more than once make a copy of it rather than taking the original.

Many visitor attractions and leisure facilities will offer unpaid carers free entry if you are supporting the person you care for. If the person you care for has to have you with them to be able to use a service (for example, to go to a visitor attraction) then they are covered by the Equality Act 2010.

You can also view the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain here.

See more information about discounts you may be able to get here.

Click here to see more information about protecting your rights, and also to download template letters to complain directly to the attraction if you feel this is required.

The Borders Carers Centre, Brewerybrig, Low Buckholmside, Galashiels TD1 1RT 01896 752431