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Original poster

Who can I ask about support bubbles?

41 replies

LockedFarAway · 24/04/2021 13:06

A family member wants to take away my mum and dad for a holiday next month and have invited me to join as the second family.

Dad has dementia and mum is his full-time carer, and feels like she is full-time caring for an adult who is essentially like looking after a toddler. She needs a break, but cannot manage the drive back to their roots, for one last holiday before he forgets every last link there. She also can't have a meaningful break because she will be caring for him 24/7 if she were to be able to afford to hire a taxi to get there. So my brother has offered to hire a van and drive his family and the parents to go and stay together for a week, as a support bubble.

Does this qualify under the support bubble mentioned in the rules? It's so hard to tell. I wonder where you can ask for clarification? They were told by the self catering company that police do spot checks and I can't imagine the police welcome people ringing to check whether they qualify under the rules or not, but I don't know how else they can check.

Does anyone know?

OP posts:
Original poster
LockedFarAway · 24/04/2021 13:24

Oh, this is the guideline I'm referring to...

Who can I ask about support bubbles?
OP posts:
CarmelBeach · 24/04/2021 13:28

Is it two households or three households on the holiday?

What have the venue said?

Original poster
LockedFarAway · 24/04/2021 13:44

It would be 3 households, because 2 are already allowed without needing to be a support bubble. But it would be founded as support bubble or 2 households as ONE, and then the other household as TWO, if that makes sense.

The venue said to put it all in writing if they're investigated by police, which apparently is happening a lot!

OP posts:
CarmelBeach · 24/04/2021 13:52

Yes it does make sense

But what is the total number of adults?

Care is all right for anyone - I could care for a neighbour if need be.

But I'm not sure that applies to a holiday, sorry.

Roadmap says rule of six or two households. I don't know how you explain three and unless one is already a bubble in which case you are two households.

Buzzinwithbez · 24/04/2021 13:57

Any who provides round the clock care can have a support bubble. Your mother is entitled to one as a carer of someone with alzheimers. Your brother's family and parents can act as one household and of course can have a holiday.

Original poster
LockedFarAway · 24/04/2021 14:04

@CarmelBeach

Yes it does make sense

But what is the total number of adults?

Care is all right for anyone - I could care for a neighbour if need be.

But I'm not sure that applies to a holiday, sorry.

Roadmap says rule of six or two households. I don't know how you explain three and unless one is already a bubble in which case you are two households.

I think that they're hoping the support bubble would be classed as one family, and then I would the second family.

OP posts:
Original poster
LockedFarAway · 24/04/2021 14:06

@Buzzinwithbez

Any who provides round the clock care can have a support bubble. Your mother is entitled to one as a carer of someone with alzheimers. Your brother's family and parents can act as one household and of course can have a holiday.

This would enable them to travel as one family, but the equation is could I, as a 3rd family, be founded as a second family because they're the 'one' family unit on account of their bubble status?

OP posts:
Wtfdoipick · 24/04/2021 14:09

Yes, they count as 1 household due to the support bubble, you are then the 2nd household. I'm in the same position with my mum

Buzzinwithbez · 24/04/2021 14:11

You would be a second household. They would be one.
You can meet as two households.
However I've noticed some pubs etc are playing safe and avoiding getting the rules wrong by keeping to six. Not even accommodating two households. So it's going to depend how much effort venues have taken to understand the rules.

wonderstuff · 24/04/2021 14:14

My brother is in a support bubble with my mum and stepdad, we are assuming that means they are one household and so planning a holiday in June with my family and my brother's and mum and stepdad as effectively 2 households, my brother being in my mum's household and my family being a second.

It would make sense that your family could do similar with your mum and dad in your brother's household and you joining as a second.

Original poster
LockedFarAway · 24/04/2021 17:45

Thank you. Does anyone know how I'd be able to check with the police that end? I assume they don't take covid Q&A's or they'd never get any policing done!

OP posts:
StarCat2020 · 24/04/2021 17:59

Thank you. Does anyone know how I'd be able to check with the police that end? I assume they don't take covid Q&A's or they'd never get any policing done!
They only seem to do Covid patrol now so you should be fine

StarCat2020 · 24/04/2021 18:00

Sorry joking apart have you looked up the website for that police force?

Cindy87 · 24/04/2021 18:16

An exclusive support bubble is exactly the same as a household. It's one household across 2 houses. So in that case, one bubble plus one household is absolutely within the regs.

Original poster
LockedFarAway · 24/04/2021 18:46

No I haven't. It's Keswick, and so when I Google it it brings up Keswick council, and I think it's Cumbria police I'd need to contact. Do you think they'd answer my query?

OP posts:
StarCat2020 · 24/04/2021 19:05

www.cumbria.police.uk/Home.aspx

StarCat2020 · 24/04/2021 19:06

I would expect them to help you definitely

RosieLemonade · 24/04/2021 22:02

Why do you need to ask anyone?

Original poster
LockedFarAway · 24/04/2021 22:27

Mum is frightened to go now, as, when she called to add me in the numbers, the company told her she had to provide names and addresses and that they get stringent police checks. She heard about the Derbyshire women who got fined over travelling 5 miles from home and is understandably afraid she's read the rules wrongly and doesn't qualify. She's so old school about doctor and police and that sort of thing. So much so that she wants to back out, which would be such a shame.

OP posts:
Original poster
LockedFarAway · 24/04/2021 22:28

@StarCat2020

I would expect them to help you definitely

Thank you so much for that, I’ve messaged them.

OP posts:
Buzzinwithbez · 25/04/2021 09:37

We booked with a large company last week who told me they'd need proof of my address as my surname is different to my husband Hmm. When we got there, there was none of that nonsense and they just asked that we were following latest guidelines.

Your family are doing nothing wrong and it would be such a shame to lose out.

StarCat2020 · 25/04/2021 14:02

Thank you so much for that, I’ve messaged them
Excellent hope they are helpful.

Original poster
LockedFarAway · 26/04/2021 22:30

Well I emailed them and received a "we will try to respond within 12 hours" automated reply, that was now 48 hours ago...

OP posts:
Original poster
LockedFarAway · 28/04/2021 07:24

I emailed a different police contact, and they too haven't replied!

OP posts:
Original poster
LockedFarAway · 28/04/2021 17:27

Finally got a reply and actually no, it's not lawful because it involves indoors. The rule of meeting is only for outdoors, and nobody knows for sure whether that same accommodation for the support bubble plus one family will extend to indoors or not.

So, as it stands right now, it's not I think the law, until it changes, IF it changes the way it would hopefully follow on.

OP posts:
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