Nearly 400 sacrificing childhood

Children as young as six are among hundreds of youngsters acting as carers in Perth and Kinross.

It was revealed this week that a staggering 399 children are sacrificing their childhood as carers across the region.

Highland Perthshire councillor John Duff has described the situation as “sobering”.

The news was revealed as The Carers Strategy was approved by both the Perth and Kinross Integration Joint Board (IJB) and the council’s lifelong learning committee.

The strategy sets out plans to ensure unpaid carers in Perth and Kinross of all ages, have the information and support to enable them to sustain their caring role for as long as they are willing and able to do so and have a life alongside caring.

There are 14,000 carers identified in Perth and Kinross but Diane Fraser, head of adult social work and social care, told Wednesday’s meeting of the IJB that figure could be a “significant underestimate”.

She said one in 10 adults were an unpaid carer as she unveiled plans to launch the carers strategy this month.

The strategy marks the latest stage in the implementation of the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, by the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).

Carers representative Bernie Campbell told the meeting: “We are very pleased with the progress being made and see it as very positive.”

IJB vice-chair Bob Benson said: “It’s an enormous step forward for carers in Perth and Kinross.” He added that it was “long overdue”.

Diane Fraser revealed their feedback showed carers do not know what they are eligible for so they are keen to get the message out to carers about what’s available.

Conservative councillor John Duff examined the report at both the IJB and as vice convener of the lifelong learning committee. He was staggered at the number of young carers aged 15 and under.

He told the IJB: “That’s the most significant piece of information to come out of that report.”

Later on Wednesday afternoon he told the lifelong learning committee it was “sobering” that children as young as six were carers and that 14-year-olds were the biggest age group of carers aged 6-25.

A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service Ltd (PKAVS) told the PA the number of carers as young as six is “becoming more prevalent.”

The spokeswoman said: “It’s only about 18 months ago we decreased the age from eight to five for carers and included five, six and seven-year-olds.”

Perth and Kinross does not report having any carers as young as five registered but there are several aged six and seven.

PKAVS said it has 399 carers aged 5-15.

The spokeswoman revealed one six-year-old boy who cares for his granny who has mobility issues, as his grandad works long shifts.

The boy gets granny dressed, helps with meals fetching items from the fridge as well as helping to look after his wee sister.

Others are caring for parents with mental health issues and helping them emotionally.

The spokeswoman said: “We offer support to little ones through respite groups (offering transport if they don’t have it), going on trips and residential breaks when they are a bit older.”

For carers aged 12-15, PKAVS has just launched its Education Attainment Service seeking to support young carers who are struggling to cope with their studies by offering tutoring sessions.

The Carers Strategy which details support available for carers will be launched shortly.