Carers take centre stage at first Carers Parliament in Scotland

More than 175 carers, including young carers, attended the Scottish Parliament to debate the challenges that carers of all ages face accessing services and support.

For the first time carers from across Scotland had the opportunity to voice their views to MSPs as well as organisations including NHS 24 and the Association of Directors of Social Work.

Carer Paul Weddell opened the debate and young carer Lauren King also spoke in the chamber at Holyrood. And MSPs led workshop sessions with carers about issues such as the financial impact of caring and carers rights.

The Carers Parliament asked how all partners can find a way to deliver better services and support to carers and the people they care for. But it also recognised progress already made with the carers and young carers strategies and other initiatives.

Elaine Smith MSP chaired the event, which also included Health Secretary Alex Neil and Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson, and she said the aim was to discuss the key issues and challenges around caring in modern day Scotland.

“Carers will be talking privately to decision makers to offer their perspective on how life is for them in Scotland at the moment,” Elaine Smith said.

Carers who could not attend or were not selected in the ballot were able to watch the events of the day live online.

In another boost for carers in Scotland, more than 60 projects will be benefit from £1 million funding in the latest round of funding from the Scottish Government’s Creative Breaks programme.

The projects offer carers and young carers residential weekend stays, daytime breaks, social activities, overnight and therapeutic woodland based activity breaks.

Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson said: “There are considerable pressures on adult and young carers and it is vital that we support them.

“The Short Breaks Fund, now in its third year, plays a large part in giving our carers a well deserved short break. Importantly, these breaks allow young carers the chance to socialise and meet other young people in a similar position.”