Parent carers in Scotland join Family Fund to meet with Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing 

Parent carers shared powerful testimonies of the daily challenges they face, and the difference that being able to have a break makes, at a meeting with the Minister for Social Care & Mental Wellbeing, Tom Arthur MSP in Edinburgh. 

The Minister wanted to hear first-hand from carers who had accessed a short break with the support of a Take a Break grant.  

We were delighted to be joined by Khalid and Saima, Tori, Yunus, Lynne, and Phionna, who all have multiple caring roles.  We also shared the experiences of parent carers who couldn’t attend in person. The unique and diverse insights shared will inform Scottish Government’s work across several policy areas which impact on carer’s daily lives, health, and wellbeing. 

The meeting provided the opportunity to highlight the need for further investment in the Take a Break programme and the profound difference the funding makes to carers and their loved ones. 

We’re committed to working alongside families of disabled and seriously ill children and young people, in partnership with Scottish Government and wider organisations to drive positive change. Meetings like this are so important to get families’ perspectives first-hand. 

Take a Break Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government’s Short Breaks Fund and administered by Family Fund. It provides grants for unpaid carers of disabled and seriously ill children and young people, aged 0-17 years. Funded breaks take many forms, depending on each carer’s individual interests and family circumstances. These can include breaks away, day trips or equipment. 

Phionna from Aberdeen used a Take a Break grant to buy an outdoor cinema projector and screen:  

“The grant itself has been amazing to help with the extra costs that you often cannot cover outside of your normal household budget, especially against rising costs. 

  I found accessing the grant much easier this year and it allowed the boys and I to enjoy our back garden in what has been a much better summer weatherwise.   Whilst the grant itself is fantastic it’s also being recognised and validated as a carer and just how challenging our roles can be in the day-to-day.   

I felt seen by somebody.” 

Our survey results

In a Take a Break impact survey:  

• 96% of carers reported that the break had been beneficial for their health & wellbeing. 

• 83% of carers said they couldn’t have afforded the break without a grant from Take a Break Scotland.  

• 92% of carers said the grant provided opportunities for them to do activities with their children that they wouldn’t normally be able to do together. 

• 83% of carers said that, following their break, they felt better able to explore and do the things they wanted to do alongside their caring role.  

• 87% of carers said that following their break, they were better able to balance their caring responsibilities with other responsibilities. 

In 2024/25 Take a Break Scotland received £1.5m in funding, enabling us to provide 4,223 grants to parent carers across Scotland.  

This year, a welcome increase in Scottish Government’s investment in the Short Breaks Fund, saw funding for the Take a Break Scotland programme rise to £2.2 million. This meant we were able to award over 5,500 grants and increase the average grant award to better account for rising costs.  

We saw a significant rise in applications for support-over 9,000. Many of these came from carers who had not previously received support through the programme. 

We’re committed to working alongside families of disabled and seriously ill children and young people, with Scottish Government and wider partners to drive positive change. If you’re a parent carer who would like to share your voice and story we’d love to hear from you.