Better Breaks OPEN
Better Breaks is now open for applications for 2026-2027
Around £1.7m is available for 12 month grants for short break projects for disabled children and young people (aged 20 and under), and their carers (adult carers and/or young carers).
Better Breaks is a funding programme of the Short Breaks Fund, operated by Shared Care Scotland on behalf of the National Carers Organisations and the Scottish Government. The purpose of the Short Breaks Fund is to increase the range, availability and choice of short breaks for unpaid carers and those they care for across Scotland.
Better Breaks funds a wide range of short breaks projects and services, including activities and breaks for:
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Disabled children and young people without their carers
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Families to enjoy together
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Young/sibling carers with the person they care for
Funding is limited and Better Breaks is likely to receive more applications than the funding can cover.
60% of applications were successful in 2025-2026.
Who can apply?
This funding is for third sector (voluntary organisations) operating in Scotland. The organisation does not have to be a registered charity to apply. However, it must have a constitution that states the organisation’s purposes are solely charitable and that it delivers public benefit in achieving its purpose(s).
Please refer to the guidance to ensure eligibility.
How to apply?
Apply online now
Submit an application here: Better Breaks 2026-2027 application form.
Applications can be saved. The following documents must be uploaded with the application:
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Organisation's governing document or constitution.
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Organisation's most recent signed financial statement and accounts.
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Any formal partnership agreements (for multiple agreements, these will need to be on the same document to upload or email them direct to sbf@sharedcarescotland.com).
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Any staff job roles to be funded (Better Breaks do not require sessional staff or volunteer role descriptions. For multiple job roles, these will need to be on the same document to upload or email them direct to sbf@sharedcarescotland.com).
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Completed budgets should be downloaded from the application or are available for download here.
We're here to help
The Short Breaks Fund team are here to help. Writing funding applications can take a lot of time and effort. The team are happy to answer any questions about the fund, how to apply and about the proposed project.
The team can help in different ways:
Resources and toolkits
Shared Care Scotland have a range of free resources and tools to help develop the project plan and application.
View and download our range of toolkits here.
Read about previously funded projects on the Short Breaks Stories website.
The Better Breaks 2023-2024 impact report is also available to read here.
New applicant support workshop
This online Teams workshop is designed for third sector organisations who are new to Better Breaks funding programme or who haven’t applied for a while and would like to reconnect. Please sign up on Eventbrite here:
Existing applicant support workshop
This online Teams workshop is designed for third sector organisations who are currently funded by the Better Breaks funding programme or have been funded in the last two years. Please sign up here:
Get in touch
For support, other questions and enquiries, please contact our Grants Officer, Nicola Lockwood by email sbf@sharedcarescotland.com
What happens next?
Assessment process
After the application date closes the Short Breaks Fund team complete eligibility checks. If your application does not meet the criteria we will make contact at this stage. Eligible applications are passed to independent grants assessors. They will make contact to arrange a time for a telephone or video call. Please make sure that the person(s) who will be talking to the assessor can speak knowledgably about the organisation and the project.
Grant Allocation Panel
The Grants Allocation Panel is made up of independent volunteers including unpaid carers, grant makers and short breaks providers. They meet in March 2026 to review the assessors’ recommendations and then allocate funding.
Timescales
Applicants will be notified of the panel’s decision by mid-March 2026 by email. Grants will be issued to successful applicants in April 2026. Grant holders will submit a mid-year report. Funded projects must be completed by 31 March 2027. A final grant impact report must be completed.
Our approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI)
At Shared Care Scotland, we are committed to transparency and accountability in the administration of the Short Breaks Fund. In line with this, we wish to acknowledge that Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, such as language models, may be used to support the drafting and preparation of funding and related documentation, including funding applications and preparation of mid-grant and end-of-year grant impact reports.
Find out more about our approach to AI usage.