Short Breaks For Carers

29th September 2012

More than 2,600 adult and young carers from across Scotland will benefit from the latest round of funding from the Scottish Government's Creative Breaks programme.

Almost £1 million from the programme will support over 60 projects, giving carers and young carers the chance to enjoy a range of activities, including residential weekend stays, daytime breaks, social activities, overnight and therapeutic woodland based activity breaks.

To date more than 190 projects supporting over 9,000 adult and young carers have benefited from the Scottish Government's commitment to develop short breaks.

The announcement comes the week before carers from all over Scotland will travel to Edinburgh for the UK's first ever Carers Parliament, to be held at Holyrood on Monday, October 1.

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. I'm pleased that this latest round has now been awarded, which will support a variety of organisations across Scotland.

"At Monday's Carers Parliament at Holyrood, a UK first, we will be working with carers from across Scotland to hear the issues that impact most on their lives."

Mhairi Blyth, Deputy Manager, Angus Carers Centre (Adult carers, older carers and young carers) said:

"We are delighted to have been awarded funding from the Creative Breaks programme to allow us to provide a selection of short break opportunities for carers living within Angus. All too often carers can become isolated as their caring role develops and this can often result in carers losing contact with friends and missing out on opportunities for them to have time for themselves to relax and unwind. This funding will allow us to offer carers a variety of therapeutic interventions at times, and in locations to suit their own personal circumstances."

Jo Jack, Support Worker, Voluntary Action Shetland, Remote and rural adults cares, (Time to Live Fund) said:"VAS and the Carers Link Group are delighted that Shetland has again been awarded some funding. This funding will enable us to continue to offer carers `away day` style short breaks accessing alternative therapies, trips to the cinema as well as short overnight breaks for carers and the cared for at an adapted holiday chalet."

The Carers Parliament will be held on Monday, October 1. Carers from around Scotland will travel to Edinburgh to spend the day with Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson, MSPs and other organisations such as COSLA, Association of Community Health Partnerships and the Association of Directors of Social Work, who will listen to what the carers have to say and discuss any issues.

Funding for Short Breaks has been administered through Shared Care Scotland.