Take a Break Scotland

01/09/2026

Family Fund’s Policy and Public Affairs team have had a fantastic first day at The Scottish Parliament, sharing the experiences of families raising disabled children and talking with MSPs about the issues that matter most to them. 💜

A huge thank you to Bob Doris MSP for sponsoring our exhibition, and to Siobhian Brown MSP, Meghan Gallacher MSP , Paul McLellan MSP , Duncan Massey MSP, Calum Kerr MSP, Donald MacKinnon MSP , Kate Campbell SNP, Colm Merrick , Steven Bonnar and Yi-Pei Chou Turvey MSP for taking the time to visit us, hear from families and learn more about our policy priorities.

It’s been great to have so many positive conversations, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more MSPs tomorrow and Thursday as we continue to champion the voices and experiences of families across Scotland.

25/08/2026

Families in Scotland, your voice can help make a difference.

From 1–3 September, Family Fund’s Policy and Public Affairs Team will be in the Garden Lobby at the Scottish Parliament, sharing families’ experiences and what matters most to those raising disabled or seriously ill children.

Bob Doris MSP has kindly sponsored our exhibition.

Please invite your MSPs to come and speak with us and learn how they can better support you.

Check who your 8 MSPs are by entering your postcode here:https://www.theyworkforyou.com/scotland/

Thank you for your support!

13/08/2026

Have your voice heard 📢

Are you a family living in North East Fife Constituency who has received a grant from Family Fund’s Scotland Programme in the last two years?

Are you passionate about raising awareness of the benefits of Family Fund grants and support and improving access to:

- A good standard of living
- Quality, affordable, flexible childcare
- Digital devices, connectivity and digital skills and offline options
- Short breaks and respite
- Play, physical activity and sport?

Family Fund will be meeting with Wendy Chamberlain MP for North East Fife in Cupar on 9 October at 11am-12pm. If you are a parent carer from the North East Fife constituency who is interested in joining us, please email: [email protected]

It really helps us to advocate for improved support when government officials and parliamentarians can hear directly from families about their experiences of raising a disabled or seriously ill child - so a big thank you in advance for your support! 💜

28/07/2026

Calling all families, carers, and professionals working with children in Scotland 📢

The Scottish Government is inviting feedback on local play parks as part of their Play Park Renewal Programme. They want to understand what’s working in our communities and where improvements can be made.

Your responses will help shape future policy and support better play opportunities for children across Scotland.

🕒 The survey takes just 7 minutes to complete and closes 16 September: https://forms.microsoft.com/e/FFXdjuSLfD

Let’s help build better, more inclusive play spaces for every child in Scotland.

10/07/2026

Thank you so much to everyone who applied for a Take a Break Scotland grant this year. We’ve once again received a record number of applications – over 10,000 in just six weeks! 💙

We know how much these grants mean to families across Scotland, and we’re grateful to each of you for taking the time to apply.

Due to the volume of applications this year, we've unfortunately not been able to provide grants to all carers who applied.

As our funding is limited, we’ve had to prioritise how grants are allocated. This year, we have prioritised carers who met all the eligibility criteria in the following order:
1. applicants who haven't had a Take a Break grant before
2. applicants who didn't get a Take a Break grant last year

We understand it is disappointing for those who haven’t been awarded this time. Please do consider applying again next year, and remember that Family Fund's Scotland programme is still open for applications - https://www.familyfund.org.uk/grants/schemes/scotland-core-programme/

We’ve now finished processing all applications for 2026, and everyone should have received their decision. If you haven’t heard from us, please get in touch at [email protected] and we’ll look into this for you.

07/07/2026

Looking for extra financial support for your family?

Join our free online workshop to learn how to search for grants available to families raising a child or young person with additional needs in Scotland.

We'll show you:

• Where to find grant opportunities
• How to complete an effective online grant search
• What to do once you've found funding that could be right for you

📅 Thursday 9 July
🕥 10:30am to 11:45am
📍 Online via Zoom

The workshop is free and delivered by an experienced trainer, with Family Fund staff on hand to help throughout.

Book your place today: https://www.familyfund.org.uk/support/discover-digital/workshops/completing-an-online-grant-search-9july/

01/07/2026

Thank you all for your continued patience whilst we finishing processing all applications - we understand how much these grants mean to families, so the team are working as quickly as possible!

Please keep an eye on your emails and regularly check your junk mail too.

All applicants will be contacted by Friday 10 July 💙

22/06/2026

Take a Break applications for 2026 are now closed.

Thank you to everyone who has applied - once again we’ve received a record number of applications, so we really appreciate your patience while we continue to process applications and supporting documents over the next few weeks.

To ensure our teams are able to focus on administering your applications, we are not able to give updates on individual applications.

Everyone who has applied will receive an email with a decision by Friday 10 July 💙

22/06/2026

📣 FINAL CALL 📣

Applications close TODAY at 5pm.

We need to receive your completed application and supporting documents before 5:00pm to be considered for a Take a Break Scotland cash grant.

Don't miss out - apply now:

All applicants will hear from us by email with a grant award decision by Friday 10 July 2026. Please remember to check your junk mail regularly.

19/06/2026

It's the final weekend to apply for your Take a Break Scotland 2026, ahead of applications closing at 5pm on Monday 22 June!

Did you know your Take a Break grant can be used flexibly to meet your needs?

Meaning you could use your cash grant to go away with a friend or a family member for time away from your caring role, or you could use the grant for a change of scenery for you, your child and wider family. This could be for a short holiday, or a day trip and you could also pay for someone to come along to help you with caring for your child 🌿

Or perhaps you’d like to have a bit of rest and relaxation at home? Your grant can also be used towards garden improvement, home entertainment equipment, or play equipment to keep your child occupied while you grab a well deserved cuppa 🍵

However you want to take a break, we’re here to support you 💙

Find out more about what you can apply for on our website: https://takeabreakscotland.org.uk/applications/what-can-i-apply-for/