Carers

The carers living wage is part of a package of Lib Dem proposals to support carers nationally, including support for unpaid carers too.

Other eligible groups include carers receiving carer's allowance, main carers of elderly or disabled individuals, close contacts of immunocompromised people, NHS workers, and carers working in care homes.

Carers held a walk and talk event in Ward Jackson Park as part of National Carers Week on Monday.

Foster with North East will also benefit from a new buddy mentoring scheme, linking prospective foster carers to experienced foster carers in their local area for further guidance and support through their assessment process.

High Life Highland's countryside rangers are working with Connecting Carers to provide short walks that give the region's carers the chance to get out and engage with nature.

In May, it partnered with Family Carers Ireland to support the members of its workforce who also work as carers.

Liberal Democrat Lord Fox drew attention to research by Carers UK and the University of Sheffield which said unpaid carers in England and Wales contributed £445m to the economy every day.

There has also been an above-inflation increase to the fostering minimum allowance received by carers, while changes to tax and benefit allowances for most carers are said to mean an average tax cut of £450 a year.

According to research by Carers UK, there are over 10 million unpaid carers in the UK, many of whom have had to take a break from their own careers to care for loved ones.

Carers NI said the new law represents "a landmark change" which is going to benefit many unpaid carers.

Carers NI said there is a "strong moral case" for the communities minister to increase financial support for carers.

Carers Rights Day raises awareness of the legal rights and financial entitlements of the UK’s 5.7 million unpaid carers, helps them get the support they need and the recognition they deserve.

Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre have a range of events lined up to celebrate Carers Week, including support groups and sessions running in Alva and Alloa over the course of the week.

In 2017, it began supporting young carers by working with schools to help identify the often ‘invisible’ young carers, offering support networks, days out and other activities.

In March last year, the UK’s first kinship charter - developed by Kinship Carers Liverpool - was signed by Liverpool City Council, setting out how the city will support kinship carers.

Katherine West, OMH's CCS Carers Project Lead, said: "The new OMH Carers Group is designed to support those caring for individuals with mental health issues.

Lucy Cartwright, parent carer development and locality worker at Carers’ Resource, says: "Wendy has been such a valuable source of support for the carers – she has used her personal experience and knowledge to empathise and reach out to others.

Seescape has joined forces with Fife Carers Community Chest to provide training and support to unpaid carers about eye conditions.

Sixty percent of unpaid carers are women and one in three unpaid carers have been forced to leave work entirely because of caring demands, she added.

This staggering figure is part of a new report, 'Valuing Carers: 2022, Scotland', launched by Carers and the Centre for Care.