Live ChatShort breaks for families with a disability
Activity breaks for members of the Armed Forces and their families who have a child with a disability and/or an additional need.
All the children and myself really enjoyed our break - It’s not often we find places where they fit in and can completely be their true selves. What you are giving families is amazing. It’s a chance for them to fit in, an environment where our kids can thrive and a brilliant platform for them to meet other families in circumstances similar to their own.
- 2023 Short Breaks Parent
Applications for the Short Breaks 2026 are now open!
Please complete our webform here to apply:
What are the SSAFA Short Breaks?
Every year SSAFA’s Additional Needs and Disability Support Team runs several highly popular Short Breaks for families living with a disability. These are specially catered holidays for those Armed Forces families whose children have additional needs and/or disabilities, whether these are physical needs, communication and interaction needs or social, emotional and mental health needs.
Families sleep in their own rooms on-site, most rooms are made up of twin and triple beds. We will make sure that families are in rooms next to one another if we cannot fit the whole family in one room. Three hot meals a day are provided.
Daily activities for each break may include:
Canoeing
Archery
Abseiling
High ropes course
Rock climbing
For a full list of activities on offer at each centre, visit Calvert Lakes - Your Adventure Starts Here or Calvert Exmoor - Accessible Activity Breaks Devon.
Application Process:
Due to the high demand of SSAFA short break places, SSAFA is introducing a new application format. Short breaks are a limited resource, so we prioritise families where the need is greatest. This assessment helps us understand your situation and make sure support is offered fairly and where it can have the most impact.
Every family deserves access to support that reflects their lived reality. For military families with children who have additional needs and disabilities, that support must be flexible, respectful, and emotionally safe. This assessment helps us understand what that looks like for you and your family and helps us determine if SSAFA’s Short Breaks can meet that need at this time, when considered in relation to other applications.
- Stage 1 – Determines basic eligibility.
- Stage 2 – Assesses family need.
Please use this webform to make your application for the SSAFA Short Breaks 2026 Program.
The deadline for applications will be Friday 30 January.
Eligibility for SSAFA’s Short Breaks:
- All children within the family must be between 5-18 years.
- Children are dependents of a current Serving person or reservist.
- One child attending must have an additional need and/or disability.
- At least one parent must attend the break with their child/ren.
- Families cannot have attended a SSAFA Short Break in the past five years
Short Breaks in 2026:
08 – 10 May
Calvert Lakes
20 – 24 July
Calvert Lakes
03 – 07 August
Calvert Devon
26 - 30 October
Calvert Devon
Short Break Sponsors:
We are pleased to report that RBSL, MBDA, Leonardo, and the Army Central Fund are all continuing their incredible support of SSAFA's Short Breaks.
How can my family and I join a SSAFA Short Break?
Members of our Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum (FANDF) always receive information about the Short Breaks first, so if you and your family live with a disability, please consider joining the Forum.
