Imago Short Breaks Service Offer 2022-2024

We are delighted to announce that our recent grant application to Kent County Council Short Breaks Grant Programme was successful. Over the next 2 years, we will offer a variety of activities to Disabled Children across Kent. We are now busy planning and mobilising our new Short Breaks programme to get this up and running and full details will be emailed and communicated to families registered with our service.

Imago Short Breaks service is for Children and Young People with a disability aged 8-19yrs (inclusive), who live in Kent, and who require a level of additional support that makes accessing mainstream/universal services unlikely.

These activities have been funded by KCC Disabled Children’s Services for those children & young people who:
 

• Are under 19 years of age
   
• Are residents of Kent (in that their parents/ legal guardians pay their Council Tax to KCC)
   
• Have a disability that prevents or hinders them from making use of activities generally provided for others of the same age.

The focus of Imago Short Breaks service is to support children & young people who have a mild to severe disability, as set out in KCC Disabled Children & Young Peoples Service.  The Eligibility Criteria can be found at:  http://kentchildcare.proceduresonline.com/chapters/p_child_disability.html

Suitability for activities will be assessed using IMAGO’s Dependency Rating Tool which is established through a detailed online questionnaire, and then scored. This tool is available on request.

The range of activities delivered through the Short Breaks service allows for the children to develop social relationships, explore emotions through these relationships and enhance intellectual and physical skills throughout their time spent on activities, whether these are sporting, creative or cultural activities.

The overall aim of the Short Breaks service is to provide community-based breaks, enabling disabled children to have fun, gain independence, learn, and develop, while families get to take a break from their 24-hour caring.

• School holiday day activities  (8–18 year olds) run throughout the school holidays with a number of fun and engaging activities taking place in all districts of Kent.

• Monthly day activities (15–18 year olds) take place on Saturday each month with sessions focussed on transition and progression providing young people with local community-based activities. This will be on offer in the following districts in Kent: Ashford, Dartford, Dover, Folkestone & Hythe, Gravesham, Sevenoaks, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge & Malling, and Tunbridge Wells.

• After school Youth Cafes (8–14 year olds) regular clubs and workshops focusing on building confidence, life skills, and independence. This will be on offer in the following districts in Kent: Ashford, Dover, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Swale, Thanet, and Tunbridge Wells.

• Online workshops  (8–18 year olds) fortnightly clubs taking place online via Zoom Video Sessions  helping with building self-esteem, reducing isolation, and keeping in touch with friends, open to all young people registered with Imago Short Breaks.

• Parent support coffee mornings and family forums -  a social event and opportunity for parents registered with our Short Breaks service to get to know one another and gain local information on events and resources from the Short Breaks team

   If you are having trouble accessing this form please follow this direct link.

Volunteers

If you are interested in volunteering on our Short Breaks programme, please get in touch at volunteering@imago.community