Short Breaks recommissioning in 2025
Overview
We are doing a survey on the provision of Saturday, holiday and after school club short breaks in Kingston and Richmond; referred to as Aiming High Short Break schemes. The main reason for this consultation is that the contracts with the organisations that currently deliver these clubs will come to an end in August 2025 and so we are planning what will happen after that.
It is really important that your views are included in this planning, as the number of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities living in our boroughs is increasing and councils across the country are facing very challenging financial situations. You can help make our short breaks offer as good as possible.
Survey arrangements
The survey will run for at least 6 weeks (not including school holidays) from 23 October. The closing date will be 11:59 pm on 15 December 2024.
Comments can also be made at any time by email: shortbreaks@achievingforchildren.org.uk
If you would like a paper copy of any of the consultation materials or an accessible version, please email: shortbreaks@achievingforchildren.org.uk or call 07894 235 704 quoting 'SHORT BREAKS'
Background information
Short breaks provide disabled children and young people with fun, enjoyment and a chance to be with friends while their parents and carers get a break from caring. They come in many different forms, ranging from an overnight stay in a residential centre or a carer’s home to attending a youth club, leisure centre, holiday club or getting involved in a sports activity.
Under the Children Act 1989 and the Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011, local authorities must provide a range of short breaks for disabled children, young people and their families. They must provide parents and carers with a short breaks services statement detailing the range of available breaks and any eligibility criteria attached to them. Here is the current Short Break Service Statement for Kingston and Richmond. Also included in this legislation is the requirement that local authorities must consult families when reviewing provision, and engage them in the design of services.
This consultation is mainly focused on what happens with Saturday, after school and holiday clubs from September 2025. These clubs are open to all children and young people with a diagnosed disability who are aged 0 to 18 years and who live in Kingston or Richmond.
Current Saturday, After-School and Holiday Club Short Breaks
| Area | Provision |
|---|---|
| Kingston only | Enhanceable Kites, Ribbons and Flyers Groups |
| Richmond only | Keen2Go |
| Kingston and Richmond |
Challengers Saturday and Holiday Playschemes |
Funding has also been made to provide water sports activities at Albany Outdoors (open to all children and young people with a diagnosed disability who are aged 0 to 18 years in both Kingston and Richmond) and for a small number of other specialist short breaks such as for hearing impaired children and for cycling proficiency training. There are also small funding grants awarded to TAG youth club and Richmond Aid.
Read more about the wider Short Breaks offer.
What happens next
- The findings of this consultation will be published on this page as well as the Local Offers webpage
- The findings will be used to inform the provision and commissioning of future services
Get involved
Please click on the link below to find out more and take part in the consultation.
Areas
- All Areas
Audiences
- Service users
Interests
- Richmond Borough
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