Time to Live fund

Supporting carers to take a well-deserved break. Our small grants give you the flexibility to choose how you rest, recharge and take time for yourself.

What is the Time to Live Fund?

The Time to Live Fund is funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Shared Care Scotland. It is delivered through local organisations, including CoWL, to make sure support reaches carers in our communities.

The fund is open to all types of carers, including adult carers, parent carers and young carers.

Its aim is simple but important — to support carers to take a break, strengthen relationships, and improve their health and wellbeing, while also benefiting the people they care for.

Logo for Shared Care Scotland's Short Breaks Fund, with text in blue and red, including the words 'SHARED CARE SCOTLAND' and 'Short BREAKS fund'.

Our Time to Live Fund gives unpaid carers in West Lothian the opportunity to take a well-deserved short break.

These small grants (microgrants) can make a big difference. They give you the flexibility to choose a break that suits you — helping you take time to rest, recharge and focus on your own wellbeing.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. You might choose:

  • A short break or weekend away

  • A spa or wellbeing experience

  • A gym or fitness membership

  • Creative activities like art or sewing

  • Equipment such as a bike

Whatever you choose, the aim is to give you the time and space to focus on yourself and enjoy a meaningful, refreshing break.

two children and a mother baking together

How Can I Apply for the Time to Live Fund?

To apply, simply click the link below and fill in our short application form.

Before you start, please take a moment to read the information provided and follow each step carefully. This will help make sure your application is processed smoothly.

Important:

  • Please do not make any purchases until you have received confirmation that your application has been successful. Unfortunately, we’re unable to reimburse any costs made before approval.

  • We aim to contact you within 8 weeks, however during busy periods this may need to be extended and we appreciate your patience.

  • Not all applications will be successful

  • Successful applicants must complete an evaluation and provide receipts after their break

  • You can apply for up to £350.

  • Please only apply for the amount you need, as you’ll be asked to provide details of the costs.

If you have any questions, please view our FAQs at the bottom of this page, or get in touch to talk to a member of our team.

What kind of break can I take?

You can use the Time to Live fund to take any kind of break from your caring role, whether it be time away, working on your hobbies or something you’ve always wanted to try!

Have a look at what other carers have done down below

A guide to the Time to Live Fund

Your most asked questions

  • For us to consider your application you must meet the following criteria:

    • You must be a carer – providing unpaid care to a family member, partner, relative or friend and live in West Lothian

    • You must be a young carer

    • You must be an unpaid carer caring for a child up to age 21

    Please note, priority will be given to those who have not applied to this or any other fund previously and to those carers deemed to be in most need by the panel. Those who have received the fund previously but did not hand in receipts will not be considered.

  • Some examples of things that can be purchased:

    • Items that enable you to take a break within your home, for example: laptop, tablet, smart phone, garden furniture, hot tub, craft and hobby items, online classes, gym equipment, lego

    • Broadband access or TV subscription

    • The purchase of sitter services to give you time to yourself (in addition to statutory services and dependent on availability)

    • Leisure opportunities that relieve stress and improve well being

    • To pursue a hobby or take online classes

    • Short Breaks within the UK

    What can’t be funded?

    • Services that should be provided by statutory services

    • Retrospective purchases

    • Breaks abroad

  • Information about you – the carer or young carer:

    Please ensure that you provide accurate contact details and remember to notify us if there are any changes to your details. For young carer applications, please give telephone number of the parent/guardian and their name as well as the name of the young carer.

    About the person you care for:

    Information about the person you care for their age, health and relationship to you their carer.

    Information about your caring situation and how you feel about your caring situation:

    This section tells us a bit more about your caring situation. It is important that we know about how your caring role is impacting on you. These impacts may be because of changes to your caring situation or because of caring without adequate support in place or any other factor that might increase the likelihood of the caring situation breaking down. These might be changes in your health or the person you care for, changes in personal circumstances, sudden events, a change in working role, a recent hospital admission, COVID 19 etc

    We also ask about the health and wellbeing of the person you are caring for.

    If you are successful we will ask for this information again, after your short break/ activity, as part of an evaluation.

    What you are applying for

    Please provide as much detail about your planned purchase, remember to include:

    • What type of purchase you are planning to make and how much it will cost

    • How many people will benefit from the break and how many of them are carers/ young carers e.g. 2 adults caring for an elderly parent would be 2 carers or 2 young carers caring for a sibling would be 2 young carers

    • If the person being cared for will also benefit e.g. garden furniture

    There is additional space at the end of the application form for you to add any other information about your caring situation that you feel may help the panel decide.

    Supporting statement:

    If you are NOT currently registered with Carers of West Lothian, we will need you to provide confirmation that you are a carer. Your application MUST be supported by someone who knows you in a professional capacity, e.g. GP, Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Support Worker with a voluntary organisation etc. They must NOT be a family member or close friend.

    It may be difficult for you to get the form completed by the professional. If this is the case, you can complete their details (with their permission) and ask them to email a supporting statement to office@carers-westlothian.com

    Your application will not be considered without the supporting statement from a professional person.

    • Funding for retrospective purchases will not be considered

    • Carers must provide receipts by the provided deadline and funds not spent by then must be returned to Carers of West Lothian

    • Awards will be paid straight into the carers bank account

    • Carers agree to complete an evaluation after they have had their break

    • If the application is for a young carer then a parent or guardian must also agree to the terms and conditions

  • We can only pay the grant into the carer’s bank account, a joint bank account or to a young carer’s parent or guardian (will only be made to the person who has signed the application).

    • All applications must be submitted using the appropriate form online.  If you require any additional help with this please get in touch with us

    • Applications will be assessed and you will be notified by email if we require further information and of the outcome

    • All information provided on the application form must be true and accurate at the time of signing

More questions?

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