Community Access Grant (for individual families)
Who can apply?
Parent/Carers can apply for a Community Access Grant (up to the value of £500) to arrange activities to support their disabled child to:
- access activities they would not normally be able to enjoy
- have extra support to access an activity while you have a break
- have extra support within their own home
- access a holiday club or play scheme
This type of short break must take place outside of school hours, at weekends or school holidays and must be used in the current financial year.
What the grant cannot be used for
Although the use of the grant is flexible, it cannot be used for the following:
- transport/travel
- purchase of vehicles
- having a car serviced or repaired
- building and refurbishments – including decorating
- furniture
- clothes
- a holiday
- annual ground rent for a caravan or holiday home
- personal equipment
- activities during normal school days/hours (for school age children)
Grant criteria
- a child/young person can only receive one grant per year
- families with more than one eligible child can apply for a grant for each eligible child, but the maximum a family can receive is £1,000 for the financial year
- funding must be spent by 31 March 2026 and cannot be rolled over to the following year
- a breakdown of costs will be required when submitting your application
- parents/carers will be required to submit receipts to Southend-on-Sea City Council to evidence that the grant has been used for the purposes applied for. If you do not provide receipts, it may affect future funding applications
- if the grant is used to pay for a carer to look after your child, the carer must not live at the same address or be a parent or guardian of the child. The carer must be 18 years and over, and have the correct skills and training required to support children. The carer will need to have had the appropriate checks, such as Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
Please note - If you are receiving a tailored package of support from children's social care following an assessment of need relating to your child's disability, you will not be able to apply for a Short Break Community Acces Grant as it is considered your child is already getting extra support for their needs.
How to apply - applications now closed.
An application form must be completed that details what the grant would be used for and the impact it would have on your child, and you as a carer.
There must also be supporting evidence to show us that your child meets the eligibility criteria, and should include:
- evidence of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- health information about your child's diagnosis or disability, this can include evidence that formal assessment is in process
and may include:
- a SEND Support Plan. This may be an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Individual Support Plan (ISP)
- written confirmation from a medical professional of a ‘substantial’ or ‘long term’ negative effect on the child or young person's ability to do normal daily activities
- recent reports or letters from health, education or other professionals involved in your child's care
Incomplete applications may not be considered, so please be careful when supplying information and supporting evidence.
Applications opened on Friday 2 May 2025 and closed at midnight on Thursday 5 June 2025.
Decision letters in relation to grant awards will be issued from 23 June 2025.
If you require a paper-based copy of the application form please email shortbreaks@southend.gov.uk
Answers to questions about the grant
Answers have been provided to some questions that have been asked about the grant. You can read them here.