Manchester City Council has joined a national campaign to recruit more short break carers for disabled children. Shared Care Network - a short breaks charity - is running a ‘Tell a Friend' campaign, where current carers are being encouraged to spread the message about how valuable their work is for the children they help.

A recent survey by Shared Care Network showed that word of mouth was the way that one in three carers heard about short break care. Currently Manchester has around 30 short break carers for disabled children, but ideally Manchester City Council would like to recruit an additional 10 carers per year.

In particular, the council is looking for short break carers for secondary school aged children with autistic spectrum conditions. Potential carers would receive full training and on-going support and would need to be able to offer a minimum of two nights a month to care for a child. They would also need to have a spare bedroom in their home.

Councillor Sheila Newman, Executive Member for Children's Services at Manchester City Council, said: "We match carers very carefully to the families and children they help. The experience is very powerful for all: the children involved enjoy new experiences and meet new people, who often become long-term friends. And, crucially, this time off allows the child's parents to have a break, knowing that their child is being looked after in a happy and supportive environment. I hope our current carers do tell their friends about the incredible work that they do so that they can attract more like-minded individuals to provide the same high level of care."

Anyone interested in becoming a short break carer for disabled children in Manchester can speak to Anna Lomas on 0161 881 0911. For more information about Manchester City Council visit www.manchester.gov.uk