Young carers

Carers Rights Day 2024

Two of our young carers got involved in helping to raise awareness of Carers Rights by helping created a video along with colleagues from Carers of East Lothian. .

Others created drawings along with young carers from South Ayrshire and Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care partnerships for a Carers Rights day video that also highlights key children’s rights under UNCRC.

Recognising your rights as an Adult or Young Carer

Request a young carers statement

This Charter explains what your rights are as a Young Carer under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, including the right of a Young Carer Statement. East Lothian Council outlines how we will fulfil our duties under the Act by producing a Carers Strategy.

ELC Carers Strategy 2023 to 2026

The East Lothian Carers Strategy has been developed to support carers to:

• manage their caring responsibilities with confidence and in good health
• be able to have a life of their own.

The strategy outlines our vision for carers and the eight outcomes we want to achieve. The Action Plan sets out how we will deliver them. The Carers Change Board will lead on this, supported, with support and feedback from the Carers Reference Group. Work on the actions will take place over three years and will only be achieved by continuing to build on the joint working that is already taking place, not just with our local carers organisations but with departments across the council, the NHS, and also the wider community.

East Lothian Carers Strategy Action Plan

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Scotland) Act 2024

This act was enacted on 16 July 2024 and will ensure that children’s rights are respected and protected in Scotland. 

Find out more about your rights here

East Lothian Council Short Breaks Services Statement

The Carers (Scotland) Act 20216 requires each local authority to prepare and publish a short breaks service statement.

In consultation with our young carers we have produced the following video.

Eligibility criteria

East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership is committed to improving services and support available to carers in line with the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016. The Act requires that each Local Authority drafts its own Carers Eligibility Criteria and to provide support to those carers whose needs meet that criteria.

The criteria defines the:

• levels and types of need that require support
• thresholds that must be met in order to be eligible for support

The criteria is designed to be used by carers of all ages including adult and young carer - download the Eligibility Criteria.