voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering
voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering
Today is Carers Rights Day! - 21 November 2019
Created: 21/11/2019Today is Carers Rights day in the UK!
This day has been created to raise awareness about the rights of carers and make sure that the needs of carers are made known. The theme this year is “helping you find your way.”
In Scotland there is a 65% chance of an adult over 50 years old providing care support. Whether caring for a family member or friend, caring is often unplanned, difficult and comes with a lot of pressure, it’s important that you understand your rights and are able to access the support that is available to you as soon as you need it. In Fife we have some terrific organisations that are here to support unpaid carers. They are: Fife Carers Centre and Fife Young Carers. Visit their websites for full information on how they can support you.
You can also visit Care UK for more information and advice about your rights as a carer in the UK.
There is now a Young Carer Grant available for 16, 17 and 18 year olds who spend an average of 16 hours caring for someone who receives a disability benefit. Find out more about the new grant available to young carers here
In a recent survey the Coalition of Carers in Scotland – an organisation facilitating engagement at local and national levels – asked whether carers were aware of the rights that they now have under the Carers (Scotland) Act. It highlights that although more carers in Scotland are aware of their rights, these are not always being realised in practice.