Definition of short breaks
Find out more about the different types of short break services
Types of short breaksMeet some short break carers
Read our case studies featuring short break carers working in a variety of roles
Discover how rewarding and wide-ranging it is.
Being a short break carer would suit many people. It's a varied, flexible and rewarding thing to do. Hear from some short break carers in our case studies.
The case studies
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Part time job changes lives [pdf 768kb]Child, family and sitter value crucial short break role.Offering short break care helped Robina Ditta make a fresh start following a major life change. |
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Helping confidence to blossom [pdf 676kb]Making a difference with just a few hours a monthDemelza Fryer-Saxby became a befriender in 2005 and is linked to a 16 year old girl. |
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A good alternative to mainstream fostering [pdf 509kb]Short break care - from full-time to part-timeViv and Fred Tutt are family based short break carers in Kent. After 14 years as short break carers they reflect on their career choice. |
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My work is child's play [pdf 463kb]Helping a child enjoy her childhood is immensely satisfyingAisha Ali is a 21 year old student who works part time as a befriender to a disabled child. |
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Satisfying job for young parents [pdf 679kb]Happily combining a newborn baby with short break careKyla and Paul Bates are new parents who successfully balance caring for their young son with providing overnight family based short breaks for a disabled boy. |
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Rewarding career [pdf 571kb]Short break care as a full-time jobMichaela Cox is a single mum who finds being a contract carer an enjoyable and rewarding way to earn a living. |
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A perfectly flexible role [pdf 499kb]Combining full time studies with part time caringEmma Gamble is a 25 year old student.She supplements her full-time studies with working ten hours a week as a home based carer for severely disabled children. |
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Family activites [pdf 468kb]Holiday approach to short break care for disabled children and young peopleSusan and Peter Hollingworth found time to provide short breaks when their own children had grown up. |
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A home away from home [pdf 487kb]Meeting the needs of two wonderful boysJacqui Gilbert and Teresa Blay provide overnight short breaks for two severely disabled boys.Their own two children happily welcome the children into their home. |
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Rewards of befriending [pdf 572kb]Building experience, making friendsSophie Shepherd is a trainee special needs teacher and works as a befriender which she finds great fun and valuable work experience. |
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Broadening their horizons [pdf 536kb]Helping to bring out the best in childrenLynn Sunley and her husband Jim are contract carers offering regular short breaks to learning and physically disabled children. |
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Children enjoy time with family [pdf 651kb]Short break care fits neatly into even the largest of familiesLeanne and Darren Turner have two children and a long term foster child. They are also contract carers providing regular short break care to a ten year old boy. |
Page updated: 18 August 2010
"It's good fun and it's rewarding knowing that you're helping to change lives for the better," Michaela Cox
Interested in becoming a short break carer?
Shared Care Network has a list of services that operate across England
Visit the Shared Care NetworkWhat are short breaks?
Why become a short break carer?Download Adobe PDF Reader
