This programme provided local authorities with £280m of ringfenced funding between 2008 and 2011 to invest in short breaks for disabled children and their families. The report found that when ringfenced funding was available, short breaks services were "transformed". Parents reported an increase in regular, reliable and appropriate short breaks, and those who had good experiences felt there was no going back to the limited services provided in the past.
There were many positive examples of disabled children and young people accessing activities that they had never been able to take part in before and how this resulted in more independence. Parents also reported improvements in parent participation and felt that the practice of involving parents in local decision making had become embedded in some councils.
However, Raised Expectations raises concerns that some children are still struggling to access sufficient short breaks. This can happen because their needs are seen as "too complex", there are health and safety concerns from the local area, and funding disputes between the local authority and local health agencies.
EDCM's report highlights the crucial role of the government in ensuring the quality of short breaks services does not slip and that local authorities are fulfilling their legal requirements on short breaks service statements. The report is available at www.edcm.org.uk.
Helen Honstvet, campaigns officer, Every Disabled Child Matters
