Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to assist young carers, including supporting them in being able to access (a) short breaks and respite, (b) education and (c) employment.
Under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 every young carer has a right to a personalised support plan, called a young carer statement. The process of producing the statement must include identifying the young person’s needs, such as support to take a break, or to succeed in their own personal goals. To strengthen these rights, we are planning to use the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill currently in Parliament to amend this Act and establish a right to breaks for carers.
In addition to this, the published Scottish Budget for 2025-26 includes an uplift of £5m for the voluntary sector Short Breaks Fund, bringing the fund to £13m. Short breaks through this fund are delivered via several schemes, all of which can benefit young carers in different ways. This includes the Young Scot Young Carer package, aimed at all young carers aged 11-18.
We recognise the importance of young carers being identified in schools so that they can be supported in achieving their educational and wider goals, as set out in our National Carers Strategy.
To help achieve this, we fund a full time Education Officer post at Carers Trust Scotland to work with Education Scotland, the General Teaching Council for Scotland, and the Scottish Qualification Authority on improving young carer awareness, identification, and support in education. This has led to an accredited e-training module to help education staff understand, identify, and support young carers.
Young carers should also receive support under the Additional Support for Learning Act. Education authorities have duties to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils. This includes support for children and young people with caring responsibilities.
Additionally, we funded Young Scot to work with young carers to create a page on the Young Scot website, which hosts information and resources for young carers about what support is available to them at key transitions, including going from Secondary School onto further education or work. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is also highlighting to career advisers the additional support young carers may need at this pivotal time. SDS will continue to look at how we can support young carers as they move into employment.