Shared Care Network, the national charity promoting short breaks for disabled children has launched a new DVD, "Welcome to the Family", aimed at recruiting more Black and ethnic minority short break carers to support families of disabled children.

Athlete Linford Christie provides the voiceover to the DVD and it includes translations in 10 languages, features parents, short break carers and children, from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. It outlines the benefits of short breaks to disabled children and their families and to short break carers themselves.

The need for more Black and minority ethnic carers was revealed in a recent national survey. "Our survey of short break services shows that the percentage of disabled children from Black and minority ethnic families receiving services has risen to 16.4% in 2006 compared with 9% in 1993," said Candy Smith, Shared Care Network's Joint Chief Executive. "However, it shows schemes are still struggling to recruit carers who can offer culturally appropriate breaks for these children."

Linford Christie said of his involvement in the project. "Short breaks provide wonderful opportunities for disabled children. They give them the chance to make new friends, visit new places and gain greater independence.  They give their families a bit of breathing space and the chance to do things that might be impossible with the disabled child.  There's an urgent need for more Black and Asian carers, so I hope that plenty more will come forward as a result."

The DVD was funded by the Big Lottery Fund and compliments "A Process for Change", Shared Care Network's good practice guide on providing quality services to Black and minority ethnic families.  Michelle Walker, the producer, said "I aimed to make this film very motivational, with a warm and up beat style and specially commissioned backing music."
                                                                     

Short breaks are usually provided in the carers' own home, and vary in length and frequency: from a few hours a month to a weekend a fortnight. Most short break schemes have a policy of same-race placements, believing that this is in the disabled child's best interests.

The DVD features families of disabled children talking about the benefits to them of having a regular break and the opportunities their children enjoy as a result of being linked to a short break carer.

The DVD also features the short break carers who provide their children with short breaks. People like Donna Minnot, a short break carer from London who speaks about the benefits of caring for young twins with autism had brought to her own family. "We all live very fast, goal-driven lives" she said. "Caring for the twins has made me and my family slow down and appreciate the better things about family life. I am very thankful for that and to be able to help in this way."

"I do loads of things on short breaks. I enjoy it and I wish I could go more often," says Raegan Foster, a young woman who receives short breaks. "It gives me a break and it gives Nan a break too."

The DVD is to be distributed free to short break schemes nationwide to help them recruit Black and minority ethnic carers.  Other organisations can purchase it for £25 inc p&p. by visiting www.sharedcarenetwork.org.uk . "A Process for Change" the good practice guide to providing short break services for families from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds is also available at £35 inc p&p.

To find out about becoming a short break carer and how to contact your local scheme log on to www.sharedcarenetwork.org.uk or ring Shared Care Network on
0117 9415361.