STV NewsA Scottish family has said respite funds to help them take short breaks away helped them get through “living hell” together.
Yunus and Reesha Ansari-Howarth’s daughter, Arya, was diagnosed with leukaemia shortly before her second birthday.
Overnight, Yunus became an unpaid carer and left his job in cyber security to look after his young daughter.
“There was just so much terror,” he said.
“It was a living hell to put it politely.
“Any person who’s looking after a child who’s going through cancer treatment or even in general, it can be a scary moment, and if there’s not enough support or information out there, it can be terrifying.”
STV NewsSupport came in the form of grants from the Family Fund, which covered the cost of short breaks, allowing the family to create memories together.
The respite fund has now received an additional £1.1m boost from the Scottish Government.
Ministers announced on Friday morning that around 3,000 parents who care for disabled or seriously ill children will be able to take short breaks away together thanks to the increased investment.
This means the Government is now funding more than 8,500 short breaks in the current year, and the new cash grants will be allocated to those who originally applied for financial assistance but were unsuccessful due to high demand.
“The Scottish Government is delighted to be able to provide further investment to ensure that an additional 3000 carers will have a short break, a day away, so they can take time for themselves or with their family to be able to get a little bit of respite and a little bit of time away from those caring responsibilities,” social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said.
There are approximately 694,000 unpaid carers in Scotland, including 27,000 young carers, and those supporting families, such as Arya’s, say the funding is vital.
STV NewsKirsten Hogg, director of Carers Scotland, said breaks are particularly important for the health and well-being of carers.
“Breaks can make a massive difference,” she said.
“[They] help carers enormously, we know that. That’s what carers tell us.”
STV NewsShe added: “It’s great the Government has introduced a right to a break for carers, but that will only be real when there’s money behind that, and when there’s money for the breaks and for reliable and appropriate support that will backfill the care they would otherwise be giving.”
Arya and her family are now focused on time together.
They say any break for families is a light during the toughest of times and should be available to all who need it.
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