Celebrating young carers at the Scottish Young Carers Festival

Social Security Scotland staff got their wellies and glitter on last week to attend the 16th Scottish Young Carers Festival. This formed part of our communications and engagement activity to promote the Young Carer Grant.

The festival, organised by Carers Trust Scotland, gives young carers a break from their caring responsibility, a chance to meet other young carers and, most importantly, have fun. This year approximately 600 young carers from 35 local young carer services across Scotland attended.

It also gives young carers the opportunity to share their experiences, discuss how caring impacts them, and to have their voices heard.

There are an estimated 28,000 young carers in Scotland under the age of 18, but we also know that many young people don’t recognise their role as carers. Colleagues from Social Security Scotland attended the festival to talk directly to young carers about what being a carer means to them, how Young Carer Grant is helping to support them and urging young people to check if they are eligible.

Young Carer Grant is available for 16, 17 and 18 year-olds who spend an average of 16 hours caring for a person or people who receive a disability benefit. Young carers can apply if they are at school, in further education, employed or unemployed. Young people can apply once a year as long as they remain eligible and they can spend the £359.65 payment however they choose.

The Scottish Government introduced Young Carer Grant, which is unique to Scotland, in October 2019, to help young people with caring responsibilities. It is one part of a wider package of support available to young carers funded by the Scottish Government.

Speaking at the Scottish Young Carers Festival this summer, one young carer told us how Young Carer Grant was helping her:

“I spent the Young Carer Grant on driving lessons, so I was able to learn how to drive so I could drive my dad about as part of my caring role. I also bought loads of clothes and shoes just so I could have time to go out and dress up and have a bit of time for myself. And then I spent it on Just Eat a bit too much. But it just really made a difference the fact that I had money for myself.”

If you have young carers within your network, please share information on Young Carer Grant. To find our more and apply visit: mygov.scot/YoungCarerGrant or call free on 0800 182 2222.