Virtual festival for carers

Sir,

The Scottish Young Carers Festival will sadly not go ahead in its usual format in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic. This would have been the festival’s 14th year, providing young carers with a much needed break from their caring responsibilities. Young carers provide unpaid care for a family member or a friend, who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems.

Carers Trust Scotland and the Scottish Government have been working with young carers and their services to continue the delivery of an online festival, and have responded to young carers’ feedback from last year to make this year’s festival the best it can be.

Scottish Government funding is providing more than £100,000 for Carers Trust Scotland to administer a small-grant scheme to eligible young carer services. These services will be able to apply for funding to provide fun and respite to the young carers they support. The outcomes of this scheme are broad to ensure that services can take a local, tailor-made approach in supporting their young people and provide meaningful respite in a safe way.

Furthermore, Carers Trust Scotland will bring the fun to young people through our online Festival activity. On Tuesday 3 August, the Scottish Young Carers Festival 2021 webpage will launch, where young carers can access over 40 pre-recorded workshops. These will cover a whole range of topics including Just Fun, Life Skills and Self-Care, at the request of young carers. There will be the opportunity for young carers to take part in dozens of activities including; mindfulness, magic, comedy, arts and crafts, and learning a language.

For more information about the Scottish Young Carers Festival, please visit: carers.org/scottish-young-carers-festival