Tag: young carers

Look after a loved one? £288 should hit your bank account tomorrow

There are around 80,000 unpaid carers in Scotland. Tomorrow, many of these Scots will see £288.60 deposited into their bank accounts. This payment is part of the Carer’s Allowance Supplement, and up to 30,000 carers who were not previously eligible could now be amongst those entitled to the support, thanks to crucial changes to the Scottish system which took place just last month.

To help carers navigate the complex system correctly, Suzanne Bourne – Head of Carer Support at the UK’s largest community of unpaid carers, Mobilise – explains more. Her advice below covers what the Carer’s Allowance Supplement is, how to check if you’re eligible and what to do if you think you’ve missed out on support you’re entitled to: 

What is Carer’s Allowance Supplement?

Carer’s Allowance Supplement is worth £577.20 in total, and is split into two twice-yearly payments of £288.60. Eligible carers should have received the first of these payments on 7 June 2024. The second payment is due on Friday 6 December 2024.

The supplement isn’t new. But rules surrounding a different benefit, which determines whether or not people receive the supplement, changed just last month. 

In November, the Carer Support Payment was introduced to replace Carer’s Allowance for carers living in Scotland. Carers who receive the Carer Support Payment are automatically paid the £288.60 Carer’s Allowance Supplement.

And, thanks to the recent rule changes, both forms of financial support are now available to many more of Scotland’s 30,000 young carers. 

Who is eligible? 

Carers who received either Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment on 7th October should automatically get the £288.60 supplement on 6th December. 

To be eligible for the Carer Support Payment you must be:

  • Aged 16 or over
  • Providing care for over 35 hours per week to someone who receives disability benefits
  • Earning less than £151 a week 
  • Living in Scotland
  • Students must be in full-time education, and meet additional criteria (find out more here)

If you’re due to receive the supplement, you’ll get a letter from Social Security Scotland before the payment is made. If you do not get a letter or payment by 16 December 2024 but believe you are eligible, contact Social Security Scotland.

Who needs to be careful?

In particular, given the recent rule changes, young carers should seek help from Social Security Scotland if they believe they are missing out on vital financial support which they are entitled to.

All carers should also be aware of the upper earnings limit trip hazards. The threshold for Carer’s Allowance – which is still in place for carers in England and Wales – increased to £181 a week following the recent Budget. For Scottish carers, the earnings limit is still £151 a week. 

So make sure your earnings are within the limit where you live, and update Social Security Scotland if your situation changes. Especially since this threshold is the source of the ongoing ‘overpayments’ scandal, whereby hardworking carers are having to pay back their benefits. 

How can I check if I’m eligible?

If you’re unsure whether you meet the criteria for Carer Support Payment – and, in-turn, the  Carer’s Allowance Supplement – you can check using the government’s free eligibility checker tool.

How can I apply?

Applications for Carer Support Payment are now open Scotland-wide. If you’re eligible you can apply online, by phone, by post, or in-person. See the government’s website for full details. 

Receiving Carer Support Payment Carer’s Allowance Supplement may affect any other benefits you receive, or the benefits of the person you look after. So it’s important to be aware and seek additional guidance from Social Security Scotland before you apply if you are concerned. 

What additional support is available? 

There are a number of other forms of financial support on offer for those who look after loved ones. Some of these benefits can be claimed instead of the Carer Support Payment and supplement, for those not eligible, and some can be claimed in addition. These benefits include: 

  • Young Carer Grant – Scottish carers aged 16, 17 or 18 can apply for this yearly payment of £383.75 if they provide care for an average of 16 hours per week. Find more details and apply via the Scottish government’s website 
  • Carer’s Credit – Anyone that provides 20 hours of unpaid care a week is eligible for this National Insurance credit, which helps individuals qualify for state pensions later on. Check whether you’re eligible using this credit checker tool
  • Carer’s Element – If you’re on a low income and receiving Universal Credit, you may be entitled to an additional £185.86 a month. The Universal Credit team can advise you on this
  • Carer’s Support Plan – By requesting an assessment from your local council, you can find out if you’re eligible for any additional, one-off, direct payments to help you manage the impact of caregiving. Find out more here
  • Pension Credit – The Carer Addition (or ‘Carer Premium’) – If you’re aged 65 or over, and on a low income, you may also be entitled to credit which is separate from your State Pension to help with living costs. Find out more via the government’s website
  • Grants from local councils – Grants to help with caring costs can also be made by councils. Check what support is available to you using this grant search tool
  • Council tax discounts – If you’re on a low income and claiming a benefit, you may be eligible for reduced council tax. Apply via the government’s website 
  • Heating benefits – It’s also worth checking if you’re eligible for the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment, or the Cold Weather Payment. Find out more here
  • Discounts – There are a number of discounts available exclusively to people who look after loved ones, including discounted train tickets, days out (see a list of attractions that apply here), and even free cinema tickets (with a CEA card)

For more advice and guidance on the financial support available to unpaid carers, you can find detailed information or speak to a carer support expert via the Mobilise website.

Highest ever number of grants paid to young carers

Eligible teens who haven’t applied urged not to miss out

The number of young carers getting a grant only available in Scotland has rocketed, figures released ahead of Carers Week show. 

Over 3,700 teens have received Young Carer Grant payments worth £1.4m in the last financial year, almost 60% more than the year before. 

The Scottish Government is urging even more young carers to apply and is asking family and friends to encourage them to check if they’re eligible. 

Young Carer Grant is available to anyone aged 16 – 18 who spends at least 16 hours a week on average caring for someone who gets a qualifying disability benefit. 

Young carers can offer vital support to family members, friends or relatives who have disabilities or long-term health conditions. This could include making meals, helping with housework, reminding them to take medication or providing emotional support.   

The £380 payment can be applied for once a year and spent on whatever the young person wants.   

Young Carer Grant was introduced by the Scottish Government in October 2019 to recognise the vital role unpaid young carers play and to help them access opportunities that are the norm for many other young people.  

Since then over 12,000 payments totalling £4 million have been made.  

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said:  “At the start of Carers Week, it’s heartening to see that more young carers than ever before are getting Young Carer Grant. 

“We introduced the payment in recognition of the vital role young carers play, and to provide money they can use to take part in activities enjoyed by others their age that they might miss out on otherwise.  

“I urge any young carer who is eligible for the grant but hasn’t applied in the past year to do so as soon as possible. 

“I would also ask the family members and friends of teenagers eligible to encourage them to apply as they may not be aware of the grant or even consider themselves to be a carer.” 

Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £383.75 for young carers in Scotland.  People can apply for Young Carer Grant online, via a paper application form or by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.  

The latest Young Carer Grant statistics were published on 4 June. 

Additional support for learning – the gap between ambition and reality for our children

Around a third of children and young people in Scotland’s publicly-funded schools (that’s around 233,000 pupils) need additional support. And that number has been increasing for years (writes STEPHEN MOORE, a Member of the Accounts Commission) . 

There are many reasons why a child might need additional support. These can be as varied as having a life-threatening physical condition to being a young carer. Most children and young people who need additional support go to a mainstream school, with a much smaller number going to special schools. 

The Scottish Government’s stated ambition is for all children and young people in Scotland to have the opportunity to grow up loved, safe and respected, enabling them to reach their full potential. 

Every child has the same rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the right to an education that develops their personality, talents and abilities to the full, and the right for their parents to get the support they need. Schools, councils and other public bodies are required to work together to provide the right type of support for all children and their families. But this isn’t always happening as it should. 

The needs of children and young people vary considerably. Some children only have a short-term identified need. Others have complex needs that will require ongoing support throughout their lives. Some children and young people need help involving specialist educational support as well as social work services, health services and the voluntary sector.

At their best, these multidisciplinary teams work together, enabling children and young people to get the support they need, empowering them to reach their full potential and live the life they choose. 

These ambitions aren’t, however, consistently being delivered in practice. In 2020, an independent review found that not all pupils in Scotland are always getting the additional support they need, when they need it. In many cases, individuals’ needs are not given the focus they should be. Numerous aspects of additional support therefore need to be improved. 

It’s distressing and frustrating that we repeatedly hear of the barriers that some families fight against to get the right support to help their child to learn. Too often, families are worn down by a prolonged search for the right support, and by having to manage a crisis that could have and should have been avoided. Families are partners with public services and should be regarded as such. 

On top of that, transitions between school stages – and how they are managed – can have a big influence on the success or otherwise of someone’s journey through the education system.

A child’s needs can evolve over time, from pre-school until after they have left school. Not getting the right support both at these different stages and to make moving between the stages as seamless as possible can have a lasting impact on learning, wellbeing and happiness. Public services are required to anticipate these changing needs and plan accordingly. 

Councils provide support in different ways, with a wide variation in spending on pupils who need additional support. This partly reflects the different ways services are provided and the varying costs of supporting individuals – but may also reflect local decisions by councils to prioritise between a wide range of services. 

Education aims to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people, supporting wider outcomes such as life skills, apprenticeships and employment. This is set out in the National Improvement Framework and is embedded across the education system. School education and success shouldn’t just focus on exam results. It’s vital to monitor the outcomes that matter most to individuals who need additional support but, as we’ve said previously, information to allow this to happen isn’t always available. 

From the information that is available, even the current measures show wide disparity. We know that children and young people who need additional support don’t always get the opportunities they deserve. Overall, a smaller proportion of school leavers with additional support needs progress to a ‘positive destination’ such as college, university, training or employment. This potentially affects their life chances and personal fulfilment. 

And the proportion of children who achieve expected Curriculum for Excellence Levels for their stage at school is significantly lower for pupils who need additional support compared to those who don’t. 

Across so many areas, Covid-19 has exacerbated and deepened risks and inequalities. School closures and reductions in vital support services have intensified inequalities for children and young people who need additional support. We know that individuals who have disabilities and complex needs, along with their families, were particularly affected.

The impact on the mental health of children and young people who need additional support has also been significant. Some families have asked if their child can repeat a year at school due to the difficulties they’ve experienced, or because there was insufficient planning to move from one stage of learning to another.

However, it must be recognised that for some children who need additional support, learning at home rather than in a school environment was a more positive experience. 

The Scottish Government and councils are already working to implement changes following the independent review in 2020. These changes need to consider the wide range of services that should work together to put the child/young person and their family at the centre. Public services need to improve how they’re joining up, across professions, to plan and provide the right support to meet individuals’ needs. 

We’ve seen that many public services responded quickly to the challenges presented by the pandemic, showing that change can happen quickly and effectively to support individuals and communities. And councils have the power to improve services as they ‘build back better’. Children and young people must be given the support and access to the right services that enable them to flourish and thrive. It will be crucial to make improvements to services and staffing that ensure continuity as someone moves through the education system. 

Central to the Accounts Commission’s priorities is emphasising and reporting on the debilitating and life-impacting inequalities faced by too many across Scotland’s communities. The lack of the right support, at the right time, for children and young people who need additional support – and their families – can exacerbate and intensify these inequalities. So we will continue to focus on this important area as part of our ongoing work. 

A spokesperson for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition commented: “The blog raises issues that we have been highlighting for several years, reiterating our concerns that children and young people with additional support needs (ASN) and their families, are on many occasions not receiving the care and support that they need when they it.

“There are still too far many barriers faced by families seeking support, often leaving them in a crisis situation that could easily have been avoided with prompt access to the appropriate services.

“While we have witnessed a more than doubling in the number of those with ASN, such as autism, dyslexia and mental health problems over the last decade, putting an immense strain on services, there has been a cut in spending on additional support for learning and a slashing in specialist educational support.

“Covid-19 has had a further major impact on those with ASN, for whom exclusion from school and lack of vital support proved devastating. This however exacerbated a situation that existed long before that and we are potentially facing a ‘lost generation’ of vulnerable children and young people, not able to access the support that they need, with a resultant impact on the economy and society.

“We would urge the Scottish Government and newly elected local authorities to work together to ensure that those children and young people with ASN are a priority and that they can access the necessary support to allow them to reach their full potential.”

Social Security Scotland: 2900 young carers receive cash support

Figures published this week reveal that 2,945 young carers in Scotland have received one or more annual payments of Young Carer Grant since its launch on 21 October 2019 until 30 April 2021.

The Young Carer Grant quarterly statistics show that 3,615 payments were issued up to 30 April 2021 and that the total value of Young Carer Grant payments issued to clients by 30 April 2021 was £1.1 million.

The payment is £308.15 each year for young people who provide care for an average of 16 hours a week.

Applications were received from young people living in all local authorities throughout Scotland. The highest number of applications were 780 from Glasgow – accounting for 14% of all applications received to the end of April 2021. The next highest was 435 from North Lanarkshire, 350 from Fife and 310 from South Lanarkshire.

To view the full report click here.

Nearly 3000 Young Carer Grants issued since launch

Figures released on Young Carers Action Day reveal that The Scottish Government has paid out more than £860,000 to eligible young carers since The Young Carer Grant opened in October 2019.

Over 2,900 applications have been authorised to support young people aged 16, 17 and 18 who spend an average of 16 hours a week caring for someone who receives a disability benefit.

The Young Carer Grant is an annual payment of £305.10 made to young carers to spend on anything they like, for example, a subscription to a video or music streaming service, new clothes or something else that helps them take a break from their caring responsibilities.

Young carers who have previously received the Grant and still meet the eligibility criteria can re-apply 12 months from the date of their previous successful application.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Security Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Young carers play a vital role across our society. It is fantastic that so many have received this financial support since the benefit was introduced.

“People may not realise what they do at home is caring – you could see it as just part of your day to day life. It is true all year round but it is worth emphasising again on Young Carers Action Day that people should check if they are entitled to The Young Carer Grant.

”I encourage young people who help someone that receives disability support to check if they could get this additional financial support.”

  • Young carers can combine the hours they spend caring for up to three eligible people in order to reach the 16 hours a week requirement
  • To find out more and apply people should visit mygov.scot/benefits or call 0800 182 2222
  • The statistics cover the period of 21 October 2019 – 31 January 2021
  • December 2020 and January 2021 had the highest number of successful applications since the payment began, with 335 and 325 authorised respectively.
  • The person or people the young person is caring for must have received one or more of the following benefits for at least the last three months:
    • the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
    • the middle or highest care rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) including Child Disability Living Allowance
    • Attendance Allowance
    • Armed Forces Independence Payment
    • Constant Attendance Allowance – either: Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (at or above the normal maximum rate), or War Disablement Pension (at the basic rate)

Granton Information Centre can help you get the benefits you are entitled to. GIC has been supporting clients throughout the pandemic and is here for you.

For free, professional advice call 0131 552 0458 or 0131 551 2459, or you can email info@gic.org.uk – an adviser will respond to your message.

More than 2000 Scots receive Young Carer Grant in first year

The Scottish Government has paid £600,000 to eligible young carers in the first year of the new benefit. Over 2000 young carers received a payment between October 2019 and October 2020.

The Young Carer Grant is a payment of £305.10 for young people, aged 16, 17 and 18, who spend an average of 16 hours a week caring for someone who receives a disability benefit.

This is an annual payment and young carers who still meet the eligibility should apply again once a year has passed since the date of their previous successful application. The money can be spent on anything that they like, for example a subscription to a video or music streaming service, new clothes or anything that helps them take a break from their caring responsibilities.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The Young Carer Grant is the first benefit of its kind in the UK and I am delighted that we have been able to help so many young carers over the course of the past year.

“We have continued to work with key stakeholders throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure eligible young carers are still getting access to the support they are entitled to.

“These young people play a vital role in our society and I am proud we can help give them the recognition they deserve.

“Young people often don’t realise that what they are doing is caring – it is just part of their day to day life. If you help someone who gets a disability benefit with anything from going to the shops or even giving emotional support, this could be for you. I encourage any young people in this circumstance to look into this, check if they are eligible and to apply. And if it’s been a year since you last submitted your application – make sure you apply again to get your money and treat yourself.”

Cameron, a young carer, now aged 19 from Perthshire said: “I care for my mum, she has mental health issues and she is not able to stand or walk for a certain distance without support.

“I make my mum breakfast, I make sure she’s taken her medication in the morning, I help get her clothes, make her lunch and dinner and take her cups of tea throughout the day. I keep my mum company when I can and have my siblings who care for her too. I support my mum if she needs to go out and about, I’ll go with her.

“One challenge I face being a Young Carer is not getting enough spare time to go out and spend time with my friends. Also not getting enough spare time to study for college assessments and exams.

“I feel like the Covid-19 pandemic has made things more tough because I need to be there more often to support my mum, more than before the coronavirus pandemic.

“It was quite easy to apply for Young Carer Grant, I had the documents ready to print off so didn’t have any issues. I spent my grant on driving lessons.

“This year, I won’t be reapplying as I have now turned 19, but my younger sibling turned 16 recently so I am going to encourage him to apply because he also cares for my mum.”

Emma, a young carer, aged 17 from Perthshire said: “My mum has a long term health condition which renders her physically disabled. I mainly help with practical tasks like cleaning the house and cooking for my family. I also help with small errands like picking up medication and doing the food shopping. I help my mum through her mental health difficulties as well.

“One of the main challenges I face being a young carer is just less time to do everything! Less time to complete things.

“The Covid-19 pandemic increased my workload at home because we were at home more. Also with my mum being high risk it has been pretty nerve wracking.

“I spent my payment last year mostly on personal things for myself like clothes. I also used it to pay for a lot of lunches for school.

“I will reapply for the grant this year and will probably put it towards university.

“Anyone that is responsible for another member of their household should apply for the grant because caring can really take it out of you so it’s nice to have something of your own for you. If you have all of your paperwork ready then it’s easy but if you don’t it can be quite tricky to find the right documents.”

Paul Traynor, Policy and External Affairs Manager at Carers Trust Scotland said: “Carers Trust Scotland commend the Scottish Government for introducing the innovative Young Carer Grant last year, the first of its kind in the UK.

“Many young carers have difficulty accessing and participating in opportunities that are the norm for many other young people. This grant helps to recognise the immense contribution of young carers in Scotland.

“The Young Carer Grant has benefited many young carers to take part in more activities, pursue more of their aspirations and has helped to reduce social isolation.

“Many young carers have benefited from this support over the last year and we would encourage all young carers who are eligible to apply for a Young Carer Grant.”

A new kind of Festival for Scottish young carers

The Scottish Young Carers Festival has sadly been cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020 would have been the Festival’s 13th year, providing young carers with a much needed break from their caring responsibilities. 

Young carers provide unpaid care for a family member or a friend, who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems.

The Festival provided the opportunity for young carers to meet other young people in similar situations, share new experiences and of course, have fun!  The event also provided a national celebration for young carers to share their experiences, the impact that caring has on them and to suggest changes that could make their lives better.

Carers Trust Scotland and the Scottish Government have been working with young carers and their services to plan a new kind of Festival this year!

Scottish Government funding is providing over £100,000 for Carers Trust Scotland to administer a small-grant scheme to eligible young carer services.  These services will be able to apply for funding to provide fun and respite to the young carers they support.  The outcomes of this scheme are broad to ensure that services can take a local, tailor-made approach in supporting their young people and provide meaningful respite in a safe way.

Furthermore, Carers Trust Scotland will bring Festival fun to young people through our first ever virtual Festival, “Best of the Fest!” On Wednesday 5 August to Friday 7 August, there will be the opportunity for young carers to take part in dozens of activities and events including; mindfullness, yoga, magic shows, paint a-longs and live music! 

Resources will also be shared on our website for young people to access at any time after the virtual Festival has taken place.

Our traditional marketplace at the Festival, which invites organisations to promote their services and resources to young carers and their services, will also be found online this year! Organisations such as Young Scot and the Scottish Youth Parliament will host live workshops for young carers and youth workers to find out more about the opportunities available.

This year’s alternative Scottish Young Carers Festival takes place during a challenging time for many young carers. A new Carers Trust Scotland survey shows the pandemic’s dramatic impact on the wider wellbeing of young carers in Scotland. 

Meaningful respite for these young people is more important than ever, with 42% of young adult carers in Scotland stating they are unable to take a break from caring as a result of Coronavirus. 

Furthermore, 69% of young carers and 76% of young adult carers in Scotland who responded to the survey felt less able to stay in touch with friends since coronavirus.74% of young carers and 73% of young adult carers in Scotland also said they are feeling less connected to others since coronavirus.

The results point to a steep decline in the mental health and wellbeing of young people across Scotland who provide unpaid care for family members or friends.

These results highlight the need for continued support to young carers and the opportunity for meaningful respite and engagement opportunities throughout the year.  Despite the cancellation of our Scottish Young Carers Festival, our small-grant scheme and online activities aim to provide fun and respite to these young people in alternative, safe ways.

Minister for Public Health, Joe FitzPatrick said: “Young carers make a vitally important contribution to our society. Often though, because of their responsibilities, they haven’t got the same amount of free time and opportunities as their peers.

“Although the Festival cannot take place this year, I hope young carers across the country will be able to benefit from the Scottish Government funded small grant scheme which will enable local services to provide them with some much deserved respite and extra support.”

Paul Traynor, Policy and External Affairs Manager of Carers Trust Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be working with Scottish Government to deliver these new kind of Festival activities for young carers across Scotland for 2020.

“The pandemic has been difficult for a lot of young carers and many have reported taking on additional caring responsibilities, feeling isolated, and feeling disconnected to their friends and wider communities.

“Although some young carers may be disappointed that the annual Scottish Young Carers Festival event has been cancelled, the small-grant scheme provides new opportunities for local young carer services to plan and deliver activities to ensure young carers still have an opportunity to get a break from caring and have fun.

“We also hope that our ‘Best of the Fest’ virtual events will provide that Festival feeling that gives young carers the opportunity to be children and young people first.”

Steep decline in mental health of young Scottish carers

New Carers Trust Scotland survey shows pandemic’s dramatic impact on wider wellbeing of young carers in Scotland:

  • 45% of young carers and 68% of young adult carers in Scotland say their mental health is worse as a result of Coronavirus. 
  • 71% of young carers and 85% of young adult carers in Scotland who responded to the survey were more worried about the future since coronavirus.
  • 51% of young adult carers in Scotland who responded to the survey are spending more money due to coronavirus.
  • 58% of young carers in Scotland who responded to the survey say their education is suffering as a result of Coronavirus.
  • 42% of young adult carers in Scotland who responded to the survey say they are unable to take a break from caring as a result of Coronavirus.

“[Coronavirus] has made me more anxious, lost, unconnected, unsure and very sad that we can’t hug our dad, nanna, aunts/uncles, cousins and friends. Future so uncertain.” – 15-year-old female carer in Scotland

The results of a new Carers Trust Scotland survey, published yesterday, point to a steep decline in the mental health and wellbeing of young people across Scotland who provide unpaid care at home for family members or friends.

The survey is the first of its kind to provide a base of evidence for how worries relating to Coronavirus and increased isolation caused by the lockdown has affected the mental health and wellbeing of Scotland’s young people with caring responsibilities.

It is part of a larger Carers Trust survey of young carers from across the UK. Young carers aged 12 to 17 and young adult carers aged 18 to 25 responded to the survey.

Coronavirus increases caring hours and pressures on young carers

Even before the outbreak of Coronavirus, young carers and young adult carers were all too often spending significant amounts of time caring for a relative in addition to the time they needed to spend on education, work and time for themselves.

Coronavirus has significantly increased those pressures. The survey found that 10.6% of young carers in Scotland who responded to the survey said that they had seen the number of hours they spend caring per week increase by 30 hours.

A similar proportion of young adult carers reported the same increase in caring hours per week.

Most disturbing of all, 6.4% of young carers and 10.59% of young adult carers who responded to the survey, said that they are now spending over 90 hours a week caring for a family member or friend.

When asked what difference Coronavirus had made to them, 58% of young carers in Scotland said their education was suffering and 45% said their mental health had worsened. Asked the same question, 68% of young adult carers said their mental health had become worse and 42% said they had been unable to take a break from caring.

Responding to findings published today, Director of Scotland and Northern Ireland at Carers Trust, Louise Morgan, said: “This is the first snapshot of how Coronavirus is affecting thousands of young people with caring responsibilities across Scotland.

“And the results are extremely concerning. It’s clear that the pandemic has made what was already a very worrying picture for young carers in Scotland far, far worse. That’s why we are calling for more support and more services to ensure that young people with caring responsibilities get the support they need.”

Other key findings from the survey:

69% of young carers and 76% of young adult carers in Scotland who responded to the survey felt less able to stay in touch with friends since coronavirus.

74% of young carers and 73% of young adult carers in Scotland who responded to the survey said they are feeling less connected to others since coronavirus.

69% of young carers and 76% of young adult carers in Scotland who responded to the survey said they are feeling more stressed since coronavirus.

59% of young adult carers in Scotland who responded to the survey are struggling to look after themselves.

56% of young adult carers in Scotland who responded to the survey are feeling overwhelmed by the pressures they are facing now.

See below a series of quotes from young carers and young adult carers in Scotland on how they have been affected by Coronavirus:

The voices of young carers  in Scotland

All the responses below were given in response to the following question in the Carers Trust survey: “What difference has coronavirus made to your life as a young carer or young adult carer?”

“It’s made it harder. I don’t get any respite, no time away or family support.” 12-year-old female carer in Scotland

“Coronavirus has made it harder to get a break from my caring role and has made me feel more unsafe at home” 14 year-old-female carer in Scotland

“Has made me more anxious, lost, unconnected, unsure and very sad that we can’t hug our dad, nanna, aunts/uncles, cousins and friends. Future so uncertain.” 15-year-old female carer in Scotland

“I’m stressed with having to care and take care of myself as well as struggling to sleep” 17-year-old male carer in Scotland

“I feel as if it has made it more difficult to care for my father as I have been unable to take care of myself properly” 18-year-old male carer in Scotland

“The difference now is that I can’t get out of the house for a day and we can’t afford to do or get anything. We are just getting by with only making 80% of our wages. It’s a lot harder to keep on top of the rent and we spend more money on alcohol and cigarettes which makes it harder to afford electricity and some foods.

It’s harder to eat fresh and healthy because we can’t afford it at the moment. I have gained a lot of weight since lockdown and it really affects my mental health. Everyone in my household including myself are sick of constantly seeing each other and cabin fever is really bad as well.” – 19-year-old female carer in Scotland

“I have no help or support whatsoever now – I’m caring 24/7 and I’m exhausted and mentally drained. My young carers service is closing before lockdown ends so I now won’t have any support and I don’t know how I’m going to cope” 22-year-old female carer in Scotland

“It has made my caring role more pronounced/taken away other outlets of my life such as study. It has made me feel more isolated from my friends who don’t have caring responsibilities.” 24-year-old female carer in Scotland

£300,000 for Scotland’s young carers

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.

 

 

#Supermarkets4Change: youth campaign on supermarket access

Youth-led campaign aims to raise awareness of young carers to supermarkets during lockdown

Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament have started a campaign on the issue of supermarket access for young carers and young adult carers during this Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.

This campaign has been set up by Ilse Cuthbertson MSYP, Carers Trust Scotland and Aaran McDonald MSYP, Cunninghame South.

During lockdown, a significant and recurring issue raised by young carers is that some are still not getting access to supermarkets during protected hours set aside for vulnerable groups.

Young carers are facing age discrimination and refusal to access if they are accompanied by family members. 

One young person got in touch with their MSYP, and said: “After waiting in the long queue, a member of staff said they were only allowing 2 people into the store per family. After explaining I am a young carer, the staff member still couldn’t understand why there needed to be two carers. 

“I had to further explain my caring responsibilities for my brother and mum before the member of staff finally allowed us in. This was an emotional and frustrating situation and no young carer should need to go through this.”

There is also inconsistency of messaging by supermarkets across the UK, and even from store to store.  Furthermore, a number of carers are struggling to get access to online shopping or difficulty meeting the minimum expenditure for online shopping. This issue also intertwines with carer identification.

#Supermarkets4Change aims to raise awareness of unpaid carers with local supermarkets and to include these young people in the protected hours set aside for vulnerable groups.

MSYPs have written to local supermarket stores on behalf of their constituents, raising awareness of who young carers are, and why it is important to include these young people in dedicated shopping times.

Ilse Cuthbertson, MSYP and Aaran McDonald, MSYP said: “We wanted to start #Supermarkets4Change as young carers and young adult carers have been approaching us due to the lack of understanding within supermarkets.

“We have learnt that this is not just an issue locally but nationally. This is an extremely important issue right now. We hope that supermarkets will start to understand the role that a young carer or young adult carer has.”

This campaign also aims to empower young people to take action. MSYPs have created a template letter and are sharing this with as many young people as possible.

If a young person is aware of this issue in their local community, they can use this template to write to the local store manager. Young people are encouraged to share this on social media using the hashtag #Supermarkets4Change so we can raise greater awareness!

Young people can also get in touch with Ilse and Aaran for support on this:

Keep up to date with the campaign on social media: @ReleaseCap/ @CarersTrustScot/ @ilsecmsyp / @MSYPAaran/ #Supermarkets4Change