Short breaks
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Action for Children
Founded in 1869 by the Methodist Church, Action for Children is a national charity that protects and supports children and young people. It provides practical and emotional care and support, ensures the voices of children are heard, and campaigns to bring lasting improvements to the lives of children.
Children’s Services Manager
Sue Connor is currently a Head of Service at Action for Children and is responsible for the Northamptonshire countywide delivery of the Community Short Breaks Service and the Targeted Safeguarding Support Service.
The community short breaks service supports both children and young people with a disability and those with complex needs who attend daytime activities.
Sue leads a trained and experienced team of staff and volunteers for the lifetime of the new Daytime Activities, Overnight Breaks and Respite Service to achieve its vision.
The integrated model includes:
- providing flexible services that shape to parent/carer and child needs
- to see daytime breaks and overnight breaks working together seamlessly
- strengthening communications so that all partners, parents, carers, children and young people are clear on the routes to access the services and are kept up to date on what is offered
- increasing the number of volunteers and also fundraise to increase the support and activities that are available
Please look out for a new Northamptonshire-based Action for Children website for families. It will provide information on short breaks within the county and activities in local communities for children with disabilities.
The site will also have secure pages for families using the short breaks services to view up-to-date information on the respite activities their children and young people attend. This site aims to go live in early February 2025.
The centralised hub will also set up and manage a volunteer and buddy recruitment scheme to match volunteers to groups and recruit buddies to support young people on a one-to-one basis.
The voluntary sector will develop more services for children with disabilities. Recruitment of volunteers is already underway, with three volunteers actively supporting the groups and activities. The buddying scheme will start in March 2025.
Further development of the website and hub over the summer of 2025 will include advice and resources to support short breaks and the development of quality activities and resources.
Action for Children greatly value your views and feedback.
Please keep sharing your thoughts and future requirements for your family via the Parent Forums [email protected] for West Northants and [email protected] for North Northants.
Last updated 21 January 2025