Carers Week launched with additional support.
£300,000 from the £350 million communities funding to support people and communities affected by COVID-19 is being given to support young carers across Scotland.
Young Scot will receive £200,000 to provide online subscriptions and e-vouchers for young carers. Meanwhile £100,000 will go to expanding the Time To Live small grants scheme.
The additional funding comes as National Carers Week begins.
Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing Joe FitzPatrick said: “There are an estimated 29,000 young carers in Scotland making an invaluable contribution to society. However, many of them don’t get the same opportunities as their peers, due to having more responsibility and less free time.
“Many of those young people may be under even greater strain than usual, and not had a chance to take a break from caring due to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).
“That’s why we are providing this funding to support as many young carers as possible to access opportunities such as e-vouchers, subscription packages and short breaks that can help improve their quality of life during this time.
“This is in addition to our Young Carer Grant of £305 per year. Anyone aged between 16 and 18 years old who spends more than 16 hours per week caring for a person in receipt of certain disability benefits can apply – and I would encourage them to do so.
“And young carers can access these new opportunities via the Young Scot website and their local carers centre.”
A young carer is anyone under the age of 18 (or 18 and still at school) who provides or intends to provide care for someone else.
The Young Scot package is available to all young carers aged 11-18 and can be applied for via the Young Scot website.
The Time to Live small grants are available to young carers of any age through their local delivery partner – usually a local carers centre. Carers can find out where their nearest delivery partner is via the Shared Care Scotland website.
Eligible young carers can apply for the Young Carer Grant via the Social Security Scotland website.
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