What are Short Breaks?
Short Breaks offer a range of creative, flexible, fun play and leisure activities in local communities for children and young people who have additional needs and disabilities (AN and D). The purpose of Short Breaks is to:
- Develop the skills, confidence, independence and readiness for adulthood of children and young people (CYP) with AN&D and enable them to have fun and make friends
- Improve their emotional and physical health, as well as their ability to communicate their feelings and preferences and their social skills, both through their relationships with other children and through developing supportive and trusting relationships with adults – thereby also supporting positive behaviour.
- Support positive outcomes for parents, by providing parents and carers with breaks from their caring responsibilities, so they are empowered to look after their own emotional and physical health and wellbeing and provide better and more sustainable care to other family members.
- Support positive outcomes for whole families, including greater family cohesion and improved relationships.
Below is some summary information about the Play and Leisure Short Breaks services currently available.
Information about Short Breaks and other community activities for children and young people with disabilities is also available on the .
Provider: Challengers
Delivery areas: Guildford, Waverley
Primary needs supported: All additional needs and disabilities including complex needs
More information:
Provider: LinkAble
Delivery areas: Woking
Primary needs supported: All additional needs and disabilities including complex needs, Autism
More information:
Provider: Rainbow Trust
Delivery areas: ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø wide
Primary needs supported: Complex health needs
More information:
Provider: White Lodge
Delivery areas: Elmbridge, Runnymede
Primary needs supported: All additional needs and disabilities including complex needs, Autism, Complex health needs
More information:
Provider: YMCA East ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø
Delivery areas: Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead, Tandridge
Primary needs supported: All additional needs and disabilities including complex needs, Autism
More information:
Provider: National Autistic Society (NAS)
Delivery area: Waverley
Primary needs supported: Autism
More information:
Provider: Sight for ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø
Delivery areas: ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø wide activities
Primary needs supported: Visual impairment
More information:
Please note that families from across ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø can access services in any area of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø – the delivery areas above are where services are based.
If you have any questions about Short Breaks, or about the information in this statement, you can email the Children, Families and Lifelong Learning Commissioning Team.
If you require other services, such as Direct Payments, Overnight Short Breaks or residential care, these are subject to assessment. Your ch