Short breaks for children and young people
Short breaks are activities for children and young people with a disability. They allow a disabled child or young person to have an enjoyable break away from their main carer, and give their carer a break from their caring responsibilities.
Eligibility criteria
Short breaks are for children or young people who:
- are 5 to 17 years old (up until the day before their 18th birthday)
- live in Hackney permanently
- receive disability living allowance at middle rate or high rate or personal independence payments at the enhanced rate
If your child is aged under 5 years see Under 5’s provision.
How to apply
Complete the short breaks application form. You must also provide a copy of your child’s disability living allowance at the middle rate or above. Or, you can provide personal independence payments at the enhanced rate.
For any queries or support in filling out your application, tel 020 8356 6789 or email short.breaks@hackney.gov.uk.
Short breaks offer
The short breaks offer for 2024 to 2025 is 110 hours to be used flexibly at one of our contracted providers (55 hours if you are in receipt of a social care package that includes social activities), or the option of an individual budget prepaid card.
The range of short breaks available
The following short breaks services are available in Hackney:
- holiday play schemes (including school)
- specialist after school clubs
- specialist weekend clubs
- after school and weekend clubs based at universal setting
- one to one outreach support in the home and in the community
- individual budget – read the individual budget process (google doc)
See our short breaks providers 2024 to 2025 (google doc)
Under 5’s provision
Depending on the age of your child, you may be eligible for 15 free hours nursery or childminding, which can be used for respite at a children’s centre if your child is aged between 0 to 2 years.
If your child is aged between 3 to 4 years you can access a range of service provisions such as a nursery, children centre or childminding.
You can find more information about free childcare by visiting Hackney Education.
In exceptional cases where your child is aged 3 to 4 years you may be able to access a one-off payment totalling £200 to pay for a carer or age appropriate service. Once your child turns 5 and if eligible they will be entitled to Short Breaks. You can contact the team for more information on 020 8356 6789.
If you require more support for your child under 5, you can request a social care assessment from Disabled Children’s Service via MASH 020 8356 5500.
Activities for your child
There are activities available for your child, including children with additional needs. See:
- activities for under 5’s (google doc)
- activities for children and young people (google doc)
- free activities for children and young people (google doc)
- activities for young people aged 16+ (google doc)
Attend our free families event
Attend our next free family fun day. This event is for children and young people with SEND and their families, to explore and try inclusive and accessible activities in the borough.
Next event
Date: Wednesday 16 April 2025
Location: Leisure centre to be confirmed
More details to follow soon.
For information on our previous event, visit Eventbrite – SEND inclusive leisure fair.
Parent carer forum
City and Hackney Carers are delighted to be the host organisation for Hackney Parent Carer Forum.
The forum enables parents and carers of children (aged 0 to 25yrs) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to work in collaboration with local decision makers. They can share their views and experiences and help to shape local services.
For information about the next forum meeting, visit City and Hackney Carers Center website.
Useful links for carers
See help with the rising cost of living.
See Grants and discounts (google doc)
Short breaks feedback survey
Short breaks is a service that is led by the people who use it, so we value your feedback. Your opinions help us improve the service and decide how to use funding. By telling us how short breaks help you and your child with disabilities, we can make improvements.