Funding

There has been an unprecedented amount of investment in short breaks since 2008. The current levels of funding are the highest ever.

Short break funding 2011/12 - 2014/15

Following successful campaigning by EDCM supporters, the Government announced that between 2011/12 and 2014/15 local authorities (LA) in England will be given £800million over four years to fund short breaks for disabled children.

The money is being made avaliable to LA through the Early Intervention Grant (EIG). The EIG delivers funding to LAs for a wide range of early intervention services for children and young people. It is non-ringfenced - this means that LAs can chose how much of their EIG they spend on services, including short breaks. However the Government has indicated that they want LAs to prioritise short break services. This is the biggest ever investment in short breaks for disabled children. In addition, to help improve the way short breaks are provided, the Government announced £40million of capital investment in 2011-12 which will help to support innovative local services.

Find out how much your local authority has been allocated through the EIG. We suggest as a minimum LAs should be spending 8.9% of the EIG on short breaks in 2011/12 and 8.79% in 2012/13.

Aiming High for Disabled Children

Following the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review in 2007, the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme was announced. This committed the Government to a 'transformation programme' for the delivery of services for disabled children and their families in England from 2008 - 2011. Find out more about Aiming High for Disabled Children.