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A pot of money has been set aside by the Welsh Government to help pay for unpaid carers to take short breaks.

The new £9m fund, announced on Monday, April 11, will allow unpaid carers to take part in new activities, as well as trips away.

The scheme, which will receive funding for the next three years, is aimed at helping unpaid carers with their mental and physical wellbeing.

The Welsh Government has said the scheme will be run by a third sector organisation.

The Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan, said: “I know a lot of unpaid carers have struggled to access short breaks during the pandemic and how this has impacted on them.

“We’re investing in this respite and breaks scheme as we recognise how important these short breaks are from their caring responsibilities, supporting both their physical and mental wellbeing, and how they can have a positive impact on their lives.

“We want to make it easier for unpaid carers of all ages across Wales to access a break and by working together we believe this is the most effective way to do so.”

According to a Welsh Government survey of more than 700 unpaid carers, around 70% of respondents said they had been unable to take any breaks since March last year.

Another survey, involving 1,500 unpaid carers, found more than half of them had to give up on hobbies due to their caring role.

But the scheme was criticised by the Welsh Conservatives, who said it was “short-sighted”.

Gareth Davies MS, the Conserative Shadow Social Services Minister, said: “The Labour Government’s actions fall far short of a right to respite and the free access to training, support, and carer assessments that we had in our manifesto.”

Mr Davies said the £9m split between 400,000 unpaid carers would leave each carer with little over £20 each.

“Although the scheme is designed to target those on lower incomes, most carers, given they are unpaid, will likely fall in that bracket,” he added.