Time off

Many carers choose to go on holiday with the person they care for. There are several voluntary organisations that can provide details of holiday accommodation that's suitable for the person you care for and yourself.

Tourism for All is a national charity that provides information on accessible holiday venues and places in the UK and abroad for disabled people, their carers and family.

Vitalise is a national charity that specialises in short breaks throughout the year for adults and children (aged six and older) with physical disabilities, dementia or sight impairment, and their carers. The charity has holiday centres around the UK, including Cornwall, Southampton and Southport. It also offers holidays in Spain and Germany.

Vitalise offers short breaks for carers who want to go on holiday without the person they're looking after. All Vitalise centres are registered as personal care centres and most are also registered as nursing care centres. However, the charity does not have the resources to provide holidays for people who are bed-dependent; or who have uncontrolled epilepsy, learning difficulties, or mental health problems. See the Vitalise website for more information about the care provided at Vitalise centres.

Refresh is a registered charity specialising in respite breaks for teenagers and adults with severe physical disabilities and people on breathing machines. The Refresh holiday centre is at Netley, Southampton. You can take a break with the person you're looking after, or they can go on a Refresh holiday on their own. The charity also runs holidays with the whole family.

The Refresh centre organises trips to places of interest and runs a programme of themed weeks throughout the year including: country and western; museums and galleries; seaside; history and heritage; and wildlife. More information is available from Refresh on 020 7188 0627.

If you're caring for a child with a disability, short breaks or holidays for the child can help benefit both you and the child. You may have other children who do not have a disability, and a short break for the disabled child can allow you quality time with your other children.

Organisations such as the Shared Care Network organise family-based short breaks which can help deal with the sense of isolation that some children with disabilities feel, by enabling them to meet new people, make new friends and become part of a 'second family'.

Your social services department, GP or health worker can provide a list of organisations that provide breaks for children with disabilities. They can make a referral for you to some of the organisations.

Many parents and carers of children with a disability prefer to take a short break or holiday with the child. There are many holiday centres and venues for children with disabilities and their families.

Family holiday venues

The Calvert Trust runs outdoor adventure activities in the countryside. These activities help children and adults with disabilities, with their families and friends, to fulfil their potential. The trust has three purpose-built centres with full-board or self-catering accommodation around the UK offering a range of sports and recreational activities.

The Scout Holiday Homes Trust provides affordable holidays for families, carers or groups who have a member with a disability, physical or mental or age-related illness. Their centres are located at popular holiday sites, with specially adapted accommodation for all families with a special need, low-income or single-parent families. You don't have to be connected to the scouting movement to benefit from these holidays.

Holiday Endeavour for Lone Parents (HELP) is a charity offering discounted holidays to single parents and their children. You'll need to join the charity as a member.

You can get advice and information on charitable grants and other financial help with the cost of a holiday from the national charity Contact a Family. The charity has produced a useful guide called Holidays, play and leisure.

Funding a holiday contains more information on grants and other financial help.

The Disabled Holiday Directory is an online directory of organisations and venues, both UK and abroad, which cater for children and adults with disabilities.

You may want a holiday or short break without the person you care for. This could be with friends or relatives or on your own. Holidaying with friends or family can be very restful and relaxing as you all know each other and can support each other in making decisions.

But you may choose to go on a holiday on your own, where you won't know anybody else. Going on holiday alone is becoming more common, with around four million people choosing to travel alone. There are a growing number of holiday providers offering escorted holiday packages for single travellers.

Holiday specialist providers

Saga, the organisation for people aged 50 and older, has a range of holidays and short breaks to suit carers, including group holidays, holidays for single travellers, special interest holidays, and cruises. Holidays are run throughout the year in the UK and abroad. Saga also offers free holidays for carers through the Saga Respite for Carers Trust.

There are services that will care for the person you look after if you go on holiday or for a short break alone. Your social services department can provide support and advice about what services are available. Your social services department may be able to arrange:

• additional home care while you're away,
• extra visits to a day centre for the person you care for, or
• a short stay in a residential care home for the person you care for.