Children and young people with disabilities and their families will benefit from an increased range of short breaks activities: after school, evening, weekends and in school holidays thanks to new grant awards from Solihull Council’s Short Breaks Grants programme.
Following a competitive application process and a review by a professional panel with input from Solihull Parent Carer Voice, grant awards have been made to the following organisations to deliver subsidised activities for disabled children and young people in 2024:
Entrust Care Partnership - "Unbounded"
Inclusive Sports Academy - "Youth Inspired"
Inclusive Sports Academy - "Inclusive Outings"
Ordinary Magic - "Magic Groups"
Solihull Moors Foundation - "Inclusive Youth Club"
Signpost Inclusion – "Thursday Club"
Signpost Inclusion – "Woodland Engage"
Signpost Inclusion – "Weekend Residential"
Signpost Inclusion – "Holiday Activities"
Strike9T - "Accsessable4all"
Urban Heard - "Media for All"
These services will provide group activities for children and young people who can’t access mainstream activities due to the nature of their disabilities and support needs and don’t require a social worker assessment to access. These short breaks activities are in addition to the Short Breaks activities provided by Social Life Opportunities (SoLO).
More information about each of the projects is available on the commissioned short breaks section of the FIS Directory. If your child is eligible you can contact the providers directly to book a place.
Solihull Council has a statutory duty to provide short breaks for children and young people with disabilities, the main aims are to provide them with an opportunity to spend time away from their parents/carers, relax and have fun with their friends, and develop their independence. They also give families the chance to have a break from their caring responsibilities, rest and unwind, and spend time with other family members.
More information about short breaks is available on the Local Offer web pages, including details of eligibility.
Councillor Michael Gough, Cabinet Member for Children & Education, said: “We are delighted to award these grants to these trusted providers, widening choice of short breaks activities. Giving children and young people with disabilities the opportunity to get involved in activities is so important and we know how valued it is by them and their parents/carers. We look forward to working with these providers and seeing the benefit their services bring.”
Solihull Parent Carer Voice (SPCV) have worked closely with the Council throughout the grant award process.
Steph Freeman, Director - SPCV said: “We are delighted to have been a part of the grant award process and are pleased that the Short Breaks Grants Programme has been further expanded, after listening to the feedback and views of parent carers and children and young people. We look forward to this new and exciting offer and the increased choice it will give families.”