Young Carer and Adult Carer Advisory Group

Our Young Carer and Young Adult Carer Advisory Group is made up of young carers and young adult carers from across Scotland. The Group sets out to:

  • Advise Carers Trust Scotland on youth engagement work.
  • Take part in various training opportunities.
  • Lead on consultation activities for young carers and young adult carers to have their voices heard.
  • Raise awareness of the issues impacting young carers and young adult carers
#SYCF2023

In July 2023, our Group participated in a training residential. They developed important skills to become peer researchers and consult young carers.

As part of Youth Scotland’s Inspire Project, the group designed creative ways to consult young carers at our 2023 Scottish Young Carers Festival. This included quick fire questions and graffiti walls.  

    

The Group will launch their campaign early 2024 - watch this space!

#SYCF2022

At our 2022 Scottish Young Carers Festival, members of the Group attended to conduct peer research. They asked attendees a range of quick fire questions on education, rights and taking a break as a young carer!

24%

do not feel like they can take a break from caring when they need it.

35%

do not feel like they have access to support for their mental wellbeing if needed.

39%

do not understand their rights around getting a break as a young carer.

Right To Rest: Supporting Young Carers To Take a Break

Members of our Group attended a residential where they reviewed these findings, participated in public speaking training and planned their campaign, ‘Right To Rest: Supporting Young Carers To Take a Break.’

Our campaign goal is to support young carers to take a break from caring when they need to.

Right to Rest achieves this in two main ways:

1. Members of our Group created a #RightToRest blog series where they write about their own experiences taking a break, to encourage their peers that it is OK to take time for themselves. Follow #RightToRest on social media to learn more and check out their blogs below!

Max Rebecca  Ruth

2. The Group have designed postcards and sent these to all 32 Local Authorities calling for greater support. Young carers need to know what support is available and their rights as young carers. Local Authorities must review their ‘Short Breaks Services Statement’ to make sure this is youth friendly, and develop a local young carer action plan to highlight how they are upholding young carers’ rights.

 

               

                   

 

 

Get involved!

If you are a local decision maker, please do get involved with the hashtag, #RightToRest and send back a postcard with your pledge to young carers!

If you are a young carer & young adult carer, we would love to showcase your blog about what you like to do to take a break! Send these to scotland@carers.org

With thanks to Gannochy Trust and Kiran’s Trust for their support with this youth led campaign.

If you would like to find out more about our Young Carer and Young Adult Carer Advisory Group work or how to get involved, please contact our Youth Engagement Officer: scotland@carers.org