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Guidelines for Carers Break Scheme/Carers Small Grant 2015/16
Introduction
The Carers Break Scheme (CBS) is open to Westminster carers and the Carers Small Grant (CSG), is
open to Hammersmith and Fulham carers. Both schemes enable carers to take a break from their
usual caring role by contributing to the cost of a break or item that will give carers a break. Carers
Network administers the grants on behalf of Westminster City Council and the London Borough of
Hammersmith & Fulham.
The total amount to be allocated to the schemes will be decided by Carers Network Chief Executive
Officer and Board of Trustees at the beginning of each financial year. These funds will be distributed
as grants. The funds will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Once the budget for each
quarter has been spent no more applications under the scheme will be considered from this fund
for the remainder of that quarter. The quarters run from:
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April – June 2015
July – September 2015
October – December 2015
January – March 2016
Please read these guidelines carefully before you complete the application form. If you need help
with understanding what these guidelines mean please contact your support worker who will
explain them to you.
These guidelines include:
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A list of application deadlines and decision dates.
Detailed information about how to apply.
Eligibility
· You must provide unpaid care for at least 30 hours per week.
· You must have had a carer’s assessment completed by Carers Network within the last two years.
· The person you care for must be living either in Westminster or Hammersmith & Fulham.
· You have not attended a group holiday organised by Carers Network or the London Borough of
Hammersmith & Fulham’s Carers Service within the last 12 months.
· You have not been awarded a grant from the Carers Break Scheme (CBS) or Carers Small Grant
(CSG) in the last two years.
What can you use the grant for?
a) Going away for a break
If you are going on holiday by yourself, we will award you £350 towards your holiday costs.
Please note that the amount is the standard sum allowed; you will not be awarded more
than this even if your break costs you more.
If you are travelling with the person you care for, we will award you an extra £100. In other
words, if you intend to travel with the person you care for, you will be awarded a standard
amount of £450.
If there are:
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Several carers caring for the same person; or
Two or more carers living at the same address but caring for different people;
this will be regarded as a “caring unit”. In such circumstances, a caring unit will be awarded
a standard sum of £550 in total. We will only accept one application per caring unit. In other
words, we will not accept separate applications from separate carers in the same caring unit
in one particular year.
b.
Purchasing an item/course/activity that will give you a break from your caring role
You must clearly demonstrate how any item you wish to buy or course you wish to join will
help you have a break from your caring role. The standard amount that will be awarded for
an item or course is £350.
You can apply for items/courses such as laptops/gym membership/educational
courses/massages or driving lessons to name a few examples. This list is not exhaustive.
This sort of grant is for a leisure related item or course. You cannot use the Carers Break
Scheme or Carers Small Grant to apply for washing machines, fridges, freezers, cookers,
clothes, debts or home improvements.
How to Apply
Your Carer Support Worker can help you complete the form and will submit it on your behalf. The
form must be signed and dated by you and accompanied by a recent Carers Assessment (also signed
and dated by you) which must have been completed within the last 2 years.
If the person you care for dies
If the person you care for has died, you will be able to apply for a carers break scheme or carers
small grant for 6 months from the date of their death. Applications will only be accepted for a
holiday/weekend away and not for other items such as laptops, driving lessons etc.
How will you receive the money?
Grants will not be made for breaks that you have already been on. If you choose to pay for part or
all of the break before you submit your application, or before you receive a decision, this is done at
your own risk, and you understand that there is no guarantee that you will receive an award.
We will make a payment directly to you by bank transfer. You must have a bank account in your
name for the transfer to be made. You need to have a valid bank account that does not have any
overdraft in order to enable us to make the payment.
In exceptional circumstances you may request payment by cheque. The cheque may either be in
your name, or the name of a travel agent / retailer. If you wish to receive a cheque instead of a bank
transfer please discuss this with your Carer Support Worker. Cheques take 2 weeks to process and
send out. A cheque must be used within 6 months, or it will expire and will not be replaced.
The grant must be used, and receipts for the item or holiday detailed in your application form
must be returned to Carers Network within 12 months. If you do not return your receipts within
12 months you may forfeit your right to reapply.
How quickly will you know the decision of you application?
You can submit your application at any time before the deadline, which is the final Friday of each
month. If you are planning to travel, your departure date has to be more than three weeks AFTER
the decision date in order to allow sufficient time for us to process your application and make a
payment to you.
All applications will be processed on the first Wednesday of the month. Payments will then be made
within two weeks. You will be notified in writing of the decision after your application has been
processed. Please note that we only use second class post to send out letters to you, therefore, it
may take up to five working days before you receive any correspondence from us. We appreciate
your patience.
Please see the schedule below for application deadlines and decision dates for the financial year
from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016.
Applications that miss the deadline will be processed in the following month
How are applications assessed?
Completed forms are reviewed by your designated support worker who will sign off your application.
If the eligibility criteria are met, the application is then passed to our Administrator to process.
Payments are then authorised by the Chief Executive.
What happens if your application is turned down?
If your application is unsuccessful, the reasons will be set out in your notification letter, which you
will receive once a decision has been made. You have the right to appeal against the decision. This
must be done within one month of the decision not to award you a grant. Please talk to us if you
need to arrange an interpreter or need any help to appeal.
All appeal decisions are made by an appeal panel consisting of the Chief Executive Officer, a carer
and a Trustee. Staff are not able to affect this decision. You may appeal only once so please make
sure you include all relevant information. It will help if you provide as much additional information
as you can.
The appeal panel, will consider all appeals and notify you of the result in writing. You have the right
to ONE appeal. If you lose the appeal, you cannot re-apply for a grant for one whole calendar year.
Carers Network has a complaints policy and procedure. We hope you will not have any reason to
complain, but if you do, please write to the Chief Executive of Carers Network.
· We are not able to consider applications where you have already taken your break before our
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decision and payment date.
We are not able to give you any information on the progress of your application until after the
decision date. All applicants will be notified by letter.
If you choose to make a deposit/down payment towards your holiday before you have been
notified whether or not you have been awarded a grant from us, you do so at your own risk.
There is no guarantee that you will be granted any award. We will not be responsible for any
outstanding balances if your application is refused. You are welcome to apply but by doing so,
you accept that Carers Network is under no obligation to automatically award you any grant. We
will not be responsible for any loss of money, holidays or deposits, nor will we be liable for any
outstanding balances in the event that your application is unsuccessful.
After any break/purchase of any items, you must agree to provide us with feedback within one
month for our monitoring and evaluation purposes.
You agree to return receipts as proof of spend within 12 months, and understand that failure to
do so may mean you forfeit your right to reapply.
March 2015