Updated : June 3, 2022 2.5 mins read
Updated : June 3, 2022 2.5 mins read
Forces Children Scotland supports young people from armed forces and veteran families caring for loved ones and friends across Scotland.
For Carers Week we are raising awareness about the lives led by young carers from serving, reservist and veteran families across Scotland to ensure they are visible, valued and respected.
A young carer is someone aged 25 and under who cares for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, cannot cope without their support. Older young carers are also known as young adult carers, and they may have different support needs to younger carers.
In this video, we learn more about the things young carers from armed forces and veteran families do to support loved ones or friends in the local community on a day-to-day basis.
We can support young carers from serving, reservist and veteran families in many different ways.
Financial Support
We provide financial grants to young carers to help them to relax and chill from from caring responsibilities to purchase things like outdoor play equipment, exercise equipment and gaming consoles. Better still, we can help towards things like driving lessons to enhance independence or provide financial support to students gain qualifications at college or university.
Respite Holidays
We understand being a young carer means it’s not easy to organise holidays for yourself and family when there are so many other things to think about on a day-to-day basis. We can take a little of the weight off the shoulders of young carers to fund respite holidays to enjoy quality time together with their families.
Wellbeing Support
We provide opportunities for young carers to meet other young carers from armed forces and veteran families to have a chat, make new friends and co-develop impactful projects through our Youth Participation Project.
What’s more, we’re here to listen and provide help to better understand and improve mental health and wellbeing through our Your Mind Matters Project.
Did you know young carers have worked with Forces Children Scotland and Fife Young Carers to co-develop and launch a poster-led campaign in primary and secondary schools in Fife during Carers Week?
We want to spread the word further! Get involved by downloading our posters and display them in your school, sports or community group anywhere across Scotland!
Secondary school poster Primary school poster
To find out more about how Forces Children Scotland can support young carers from serving, reservist and veteran families across Scotland, please email admin@forceschildrenscotland.org.uk