Creative Breaks OPEN
Creative Breaks: now OPEN for applications
The Creative Breaks programme of the Short Breaks Fund is now open for applications for 2024-2025.
The Creative Breaks programme of the Short Breaks Fund is now open for applications for 2024-2025.
The Creative Breaks programme provides 12 month grants to third sector organisations to develop and deliver short breaks projects and services for carers of adults (aged 21 years and over), and young carers (caring for children or adults), and the people that they care for.
Short breaks activities can take many different forms – including breaks away (i.e., overnight stays, residential breaks), days out, and/or shorter sessions (i.e., regular activities). Activities must be designed to enable carers to have a life outside or alongside their caring role, and to support their health and wellbeing. Short breaks should also benefit the cared-for person and others (e.g., family members) and help sustain the caring relationship.
Short break activities can be for the carers, for the people they care for, or for both the carers and the cared-for people to enjoy together. To be eligible for Creative Breaks funding, projects must be able to evidence how their activities will benefit both the carers and the people they care for, by providing a break from their normal routine.
A total of around £1.1 Million is available. Grants are for one year (October 2024–September 2025).
Can we apply?
This funding is for third sector (voluntary organisations) operating in Scotland. You do not have to be a registered charity to apply. However, your organisation must have a constitution that states your organisation’s purposes are solely charitable and that it delivers public benefit in achieving its purpose(s).
For full details on eligibility criteria please see the guidance.
Apply online now
You can now make an application online. The closing date is Thursday 23 May 2024 at 1700. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
You can save your application and return to it at any point prior to the deadline. You can upload the following with your application:
- Your organisations governing document or constitution
- Your organisations most recent signed financial statement and accounts
- Any formal partnership agreements (For multiple agreements you will need to add these to the same document to upload or email them to us sbf@sharedcarescotland.com)
- Any staff job roles you are seeking funding for (We do not require sessional staff or volunteer role descriptions. For multiple job roles you will need to add these to the same document to upload or email them to us sbf@sharedcarescotland.com)
- Completed budgets should be downloaded from the application or are available for download here
We're here to help
The Short Breaks Fund team is here to help. We know that writing funding applications can take a lot of time and effort and we don’t want that to go to waste! We are happy to answer any questions you have about the fund, how to apply and about your proposed project. We can help in different ways:
Resources and toolkits
We have a range of free resources and tools to help you develop your project plan and application:
• Easy consultation toolkit
• Easy evaluation toolkit
• Sustainability guide
You can download all of these resources from the toolkits section of our website.
You can also read about previously funded projects in the grant impact reports section.
Applicant support workshops
We are delivering two workshop sessions online.
Applicant support workshop 1: Thursday 11 April, 1000-1100
Applicant support workshop 2: Wednesday 8 May, 1400-1500
Phone-in sessions
We also have phone-in sessions when you are welcome to arrange a Teams call with the Short Breaks Fund team to discuss your application in more detail.
- Phone-in session 1: Thursday 18 April, 0930-1230
- Phone-in session 2: Wednesday 1 May, 1330-1600
- Phone-in session 3: Wednesday 15 May, 0930-1230
Email us your name, organisation and contact number: sbf@sharedcarescotland.com to book a slot. Please note we are unable to comment on draft applications.
Get in touch
For all other questions and enquiries, please contact our grants officer, Amanda Moffat by email sbf@sharedcarescotland.com
A recording of our first workshop is available here:
What happens next?
Assessment process
Once we have completed eligibility checks, applications are passed to our team of independent grants assessors. The assessor will contact you in June 2024 to arrange a time for a telephone or video call assessment. Please make sure that the person(s) who will be talking to the assessor can speak knowledgably about the organisation and the project.
Grant panel
Our independent grants allocation panel will meet in mid-September to review the assessors’ recommendations and allocate funding.
Timescales
You will be notified of the panel’s decision by week commencing 23 September 2024. Grants will be issued to successful applicants from 1 October 2024. Funded projects must be completed by 30 September 2025.
Timeline
Details of the different stages of the funding programme can be viewed in our Short Breaks Fund timeline.
Closing date for applications is Thursday 23 May at 1700.