Short breaks for children and young adults with disabilities
What are Short Breaks?
Short breaks are part of the services offered by the Children and Young Adults with Disabilities (CYAD) service. The team works with children and young people up to 25 years old.
Short breaks give:
- Children and young people a chance to take part in fun and exciting activities
- Parents and carers a welcome rest from their caring duties
- Opportunities to join activities at home, in the community, after school, at weekends, during school holidays, or overnight
Having regular short breaks helps build strength and resilience for the whole family.
Who can get a short break?
There are two main ways to access short breaks.
Children with a CYAD assessment of need and an agreed care plan
If a child meets the CYAD rules, the team will carry out a full assessment of their needs and your needs as a carer.
To arrange an assessment, see Children and Young Adults Disability Service.
Core offer short breaks
Core offer short breaks are available for children and young people who meet all of these points:
- Are under 18 years old
- Have a disability
- Receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at a medium or high rate.
Families who qualify can also use their core offer funding with our approved care providers.
How to apply for a short break
You can apply for a short break by following these steps:
- New to the service: If you do not receive support from the London Borough of Harrow, call the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) team on 020 8901 2690
- Already known to us: If you already use our services, you can apply online for a social work assessment or review
Approved providers
These are the 14 approved providers from 2025 to 2028:
Kids can achieve (ages 5-18)
Helps children with learning disabilities and autism build confidence through after school, weekend, and holiday clubs.
D-Triumph Care (ages 5-18)
Offers support through outings like swimming, cinema trips, soft play, and trips to the park.
All for care (ages 0-25)
Provides personal care and group activities to help young people grow their independence.
Better Families Social Work Services (ages 0-25)
Registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care. They offer safe, specialised support and hospital care.
Harrow Carers (ages 5-18)
Gives children fun opportunities to relax while giving families a break from daily care.
Visit Elitespecialistcare.org.uk
Care4ocus (ages 0-18)
Delivers personal care plans and community events that focus on child wellbeing.
Community Connex (ages 5-18)
Runs a choice of energetic group activities across the local area.
Care Consort (ages 13-18)
Runs creative Horizons sessions that build emotional strength and confidence.
Star Maris (ages 6-16)
Provides a comfortable home away from home setting with trip choices like bowling and swimming.
Visit StarMarisHealthcare.co.uk
Endorphins (ages 8-16)
Offers inclusive sessions with high staff numbers, featuring dance, drama, arts, and games for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) pupils.
Gold Crest (ages 5-18)
Features sports, creative projects, and after school care sessions.
Visit GoldCrestHealthcareService.com
Lifeserve Solutions (ages 5-18)
Organises accessible, fun activities suited to a wide range of needs.
Visit LifeserveSolutions.co.uk
Care plan activities
If short breaks are recommended following your assessment, the activities will be chosen to reach clear goals.
Activities can be funded in two ways:
- Direct payment: Money is given directly to you so you can pay for activities with chosen providers inside or outside the borough
- Framework providers: The CYAD team can arrange for your child to join activities run directly by our list of approved providers
Further reading:
You can read more online:
How the Core Offer is applied in Harrow