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Young carers have their say
14/09/2008
Young carers have the opportunity to tell Ministers what their priorities are, as part of Scotland's first Young Carers Festival.
Those priorities, suggested by the 350 young carers attending the festival, will help to shape the first ever young carers section of Scotland's future carers strategy.
Public Health Minister Shona Robison and Children and Early Years Minister Adam Ingram will both take part in the festival, alongside local authorities and other key decision makers.
The event will feature political speed dating, with Ministers, MSPs and local decision makers talking with young carers in four minute slots, and a consultation zone with the thoughts of young carers displayed on wish walls.
Ms Robison said:
"The right support is vital in helping young carers to cope with their responsibilities, while protecting their own health and wellbeing.
"That is why we are delighted to be funding Scotland's first ever Young Carers Festival, giving many young carers a well-deserved and fun break.
"Importantly, this is a golden opportunity to hear young carers views on what services they need, and how they should be delivered.
"The Scottish Government will act on these ideas and ensure that they shape the future strategy for the benefit of young carers in Scotland."
Mr Ingram said:
"The Young Carers Festival is playing an important role to raise awareness of young carers, who can often be overlooked by society, allowing them to have a break and just enjoy their youth.
"We are determined to ensure that all young people are able to speak out and have their views listened to and taken seriously. This is particularly important for children who need extra help - such as young carers - so that they can receive the support they need to develop and flourish.
"Families where young children are at risk of becoming young carers should receive the support they need from an early stage. This will be reflected through the Early Years Framework we are developing and will be publishing this autumn."
Neil White, 18, from Paisley, who has looked after his mother since he was nine years old, said:
"The Young Carers Festival will be a great opportunity to have fun, but it is more important that we have the chance to speak to MSPs and that they hear what we have to say.
"Young carers need to speak directly to MSPs about what matters to them - it shouldn't be done through other people. Other people can't speak for us as well as we can."
Young people's opinions gathered from the event will also help decide about similar events in future years.
Florence Burke, Director of the Princes Royal Trust for Carers, organisers of the festival said:
"The Young Carers Festival is the first of its kind in Scotland. The event will provide a welcome short break for 350 young carers and a chance for them to behave like other youngsters, away from their caring responsibilities.
"But, just as importantly, the Festival is also about listening to young carers and collecting their views about young carers support and the future of the event.
"It is what happens through the forum and after the Festival, which will have the greatest bearing on the lives of the 100,000 young carers in Scotland."
Recently, the Scottish Government has introduced new measures to begin to improve support for young carers. These include:
- Guides to help those managing young carer services to ensure they are as good as they can be.
- 10,000 additional respite weeks for carers of all ages, which will see more young carers benefit from extra short breaks.
- Young carers issues being addressed as an integral part of all children and young people policies, ensuring professionals with everyday contact with young people are more aware of young carers and how they should be supported.
- The introduction of NHS Carer Information Strategies to ensure staff at hospitals and GP surgeries are able to recognise and support young carers.
The Young Carers Festival takes place at the Broomlee Outdoor Centre, West Linton on Saturday 13 September and Sunday 14 September.