It is easy to neglect your own needs and interests when you are busy caring for someone. Remembering to take time out, unwind and enjoy yourself is a way of looking after your own wellbeing and coping with stressful and demanding circumstances.

Rest - Holidays with the person you care for or for people with disabilities 

There are many organisations, which offer holidays for people who are ill, frail or have a disability, with or without their Carers.

Their regular newsletters, or travel clubs, will keep you up to date with what is available and their experienced staff will help you make holiday choices that are right for the person you care for. These include escorted day trips or longer holidays in the UK or abroad, which provide a friendly face and a little extra support to those travelling. They will also provide details of specially adapted holiday accommodation suitable for a range of different disabilities, for example the accessible Vitalise centre’s around the UK that offer breaks with or without care provided.

Tourism for All is a national charity that provides information on accessible holiday venues and places in the UK and abroad for disabled people, their Carers and family. 

Address: Tourism for all, c/o Vitalise, Shap Road Industrial Estate. Shap Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 6NZ
Tel: 0303 303 0146
Website: www.tourismforall.org.uk

Vitalise is a national charity that specialises in short breaks throughout the year for adults and children (aged six and older) with physical disabilities or sight impairment and their Carers. The charity has holiday centres around the UK, including Cornwall, Southampton and Southport. It also offers holidays in Spain and Germany.

Vitalise offers short breaks for Carers who want to go on holiday without the person they're looking after. All Vitalise centres are registered as personal care centres and most are also registered as nursing care centres. However, the charity does not have the resources to provide holidays for people who are bed-dependent; have uncontrolled epilepsy or have mental health difficulties.

For information contact:

Address: Vitalise, Respite breaks, short breaks and holidays at Vitalise Centres, Short Break Bookings Team, Shap Road Industrial Estate, Shap Road. Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 6NZ
Tel: 0303 303 0145
Email: bookings@vitalise.org.uk
Website: www.vitalise.org.uk

Refresh is a registered charity specialising in respite breaks for teenagers and adults with severe physical disabilities and people on breathing machines. The Refresh holiday centre is at Netley, Southampton. You can take a break with the person you're looking after, or they can go on a Refresh holiday on their own. The charity also runs holidays with the whole family.

The Refresh centre organises trips to places of interest and runs a programme of themed weeks throughout the year including: Country and Western; Museums and Galleries; Seaside; History and Heritage; and Wildlife.

Tel: 020 7188 5643 Tuesday, Wednesday
Website: www.refreshcare.co.uk

Holidays without the person you look after 

You may want a holiday or short break without the person you care for. This could be with friends or relatives or on your own. Holidaying with friends or family can be very restful and relaxing as you all know each other and can support each other in making decisions.

But you may choose to go on a holiday on your own, where you won't know anybody else. Going on holiday alone is becoming more common, with around four million people choosing to travel alone. There are a growing number of holiday providers offering escorted holiday packages for single travellers.

Saga, the organisation for people aged 50 and older, has a range of holidays and short breaks to suit Carers, including group holidays, holidays for single travellers, special interest holidays, and cruises. Holidays are run throughout the year in the UK and abroad. Saga also offers free holidays for Carers through the Saga Respite for Carers’ Trust. The Carer should

• Be over 50

• Have been caring for someone for more than a year

• Not have taken a significant holiday away from their caring responsibilities within the last year

• Not be a professional Carer

To nominate somebody you know or yourself download form on www.saga.co.uk/health/Carers

Or write to (enclosing a stamped addressed envelope): The Trust Manager, Saga Respite for Carers’ Trust, The Saga Building, Enbrook Park, Folkestone, Kent CT20 3SE

Kiloran Trust – Caring for Carers

Kiloran is specifically for full time Carers looking after a relative or friend at home - a husband, wife, child, parent, sibling - who requires full time commitment to their care. They offer subsidised breaks for Carers.

To enquire about coming to Kiloran for a break, just telephone 020 7602 7404 and we will send you a booking form and further information or download application form www.kilorantrust.org.uk

Wellbeing

Rethink – Time Out scheme for people who care for someone with a severe mental illness includes free complimentary health vouchers, workshops and courses, respite breaks and Carers’ support groups.             

Tel: 01865 455877

Randolph Hotel

Carers get 25% off all treatments at the Spa at the Randolph, Oxford. To book telephone the Spa on 01865 256485

Carers’ Week

Each year Carers’ Week shares the positive experiences as well as the more difficult and at the same time raises awareness of the issues faced by Carers. During this week, a number of events and activities for Carers of all ages take place. The key aims for Carers’ Week are to:

• Highlight and celebrate the contribution made by Carers
• Campaign for better support and services for Carers
• Promote policies and best practice that can improve Carers' quality of life
• Reach out to 'hidden' Carers, ensuring they know where to find help and support

Address: Carers’ Week, 20 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4LX
Tel: 0845 241 2582      
Fax: 020 7378 9781
Website: www.Carersweek.org
Email: mail@Carersweek.org

Age UK Oxfordshire has a wide range of activities for people over 50 throughout the county. These include: exercise classes, holiday opportunities, creative art trips, information fairs, lunches, dinners and drop-in club

Head office Address: Age Concern Oxfordshire, St Edmund House, 39 West St Helen Street, Abingdon OX14 5BT
Tel: 0844 8870005

The Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust

The Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust offers health promotion advice on a range of topics, such as healthy eating, keeping fit and smoking cessation.

For more information go to www.oxfordshirepct.nhs.ukand click on ‘Your Health’ and then ‘Health Promotion’.

Leisure Activities

Walking for Health

Walking for Health encourages more people to become physically active in their local communities. They support the largest network of health walk schemes across England, offering regular short walks over easy terrain with trained walk leaders.

Tel: 0300 060 2287      
Email: wfhinfo@naturalengland.org.uk
Website: www.wfh.naturalengland.org.uk

BTCV - Green Gym 

A scheme that inspires people to improve their health and the environment at the same time by working outside and doing practical, environmental activities.

Tel: 01296 330 033
Email: oxfordshire@btcv.org.uk
Website: www.btcv.org.uk

Clubs and Societies in Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire county Council has a database of over 2000 clubs and societies around Oxfordshire. Download details from www.oxfordshire.gov.ukand type in ‘clubs and societies’ in the search field.

Adult Learning – Oxfordshire County Council

Adult Learning offers a range of free courses for basic skills such as writing, reading, maths, communication and computer skills. The service also has an extensive list of courses available through evening or day classes. To find out more contact:

Adult Learning, L18, Cricket Road Centre, Cricket Road, Oxford, OX4 3DW
Tel: 0845 351 0646 (Course enquiries and enrolments) & 01865 797474 (General enquiries)
Email: adult.learning@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Website: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/adultlearning

Two for One – Leisure opportunities

For some leisure activities Carers go for free if they are supporting the person they care for. In some cases the person with the disability may be asked to prove that they are in receipt of a disability-related benefit in order for the Carer to go for free.

Many cinemas in Oxfordshire offer free entry to Carers when they are accompanying their cared for. For more information contact:

The Cinemas Exhibitors Limited, The Card Network, Network House, St Ives Way, Sandycroft, CH5 2QS
Tel: 0845 123 1292
Minicom / Text phone: 0845 123 1297
Website: www.ceacard.co.uk

Oxford United Football Club

Offer free match entry to Carers accompanying their cared for.

For more information contact 01865-337533
Website: www.oufc.co.uk

Oxfordshire Leisure Centres also offers two for one and more information can be found on:

http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/
http://www.oxford.gov.uk/
http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/
http://www.westoxon.gov.uk/
http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/services-and-advice

Or by contacting the Carers Oxfordshire 0845 050 7666 to discuss what is available in your area.

Please note: The organisations listed on this page are not endorsed or recommended by Oxfordshire County Council and the contact details are provided for information only.

Please feel free to contact any of the above organisations yourself. If required, Carers Oxfordshire can also help you further. You can contact them on 0845 050 7666, Monday to Thursday 08:30-17:00, Friday 08:30-16:00