Bradford Council has received a £5.8 million pot of money from the Government to expand on the short breaks it provides for disabled children and their families.
The authority is one of 21 'pathfinder' councils across the country to receive a share of £370m funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to fund mini breaks for disabled children to give their families or carers some time off.
Bradford's money, which it will receive over a three-year period, will help build on the Shared Care Service it already provides. As well as giving children a change of scenery and their families a break, the service gives them the chance to socialise in a way most able-bodied children take for granted.
The money will enable the Children and Young People's Partnership to build on this so disabled children to go to youth clubs, mainstream children's holiday schemes and after school clubs. This means they can play a more active role in what Bradford district has to offer for children and young people.
There are also plans to extend the range of services provided for children with complex health needs and those with varying degrees of autism.
Additional funding has also been directed to Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust (tPCT) so that it can work with the authority to increase services for children with disabilities, complex health needs and terminal illnesses. This which will complement the investment in the Council and enable both organisations to work together.
Councillor Colin Gill, Executive Member for Children's Services, said: "This much-needed investment will make a real difference to the excellent work already being done in the district. Because we have been selected as a pathfinder authority the way we develop these services will be a blueprint for how they develop nationally."
Chief Executive of Bradford and Airedale tPCT, Simon Morritt, said: “We very much welcome this investment which we will use to work closely with the local authority to ensure that the lives of some of the most vulnerable children with complex health problems and their families, are improved.”
The Council has pledged to consult with families on the sorts of short break services they wanted. This pledge is being honoured with a special event at Valley Parade, Bradford on Tuesday 18 March. All parents of disabled children are welcome. The event will be opened by Coun Gill and Christine Lenehan Director of the Council for Disabled Children is a keynote speaker. More information is available from the Disabled Children Information Service on 01274 431776/ dcis@bradford.gov.uk
Media Relations Officer:
Kathy Grillo
Telephone: 01274 433526
Fax: 01274 432005
Email: press.communications@bradford.gov.uk
Date: 16.01.08
