Carers Week 2025: East Lothian  - Caring About Equality

East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership (ELHSCP) is proud to support Carers Week 2025 - a national week of recognition and awareness between Monday 9 to Sunday 15 June, celebrating the vital role unpaid carers play in our communities. This year’s theme, 'caring about equality,' shines a spotlight on the challenges carers face including; greater risk of poverty, social isolation, poor mental and physical health. Far too often, carers of all-ages miss out on opportunities in their education, careers, or personal lives, just because of their caring role and the action needed to ensure every carer has equal access to support, opportunities, and services.

Across East Lothian, thousands of unpaid carers - from teenagers balancing school with care responsibilities to older adults supporting partners and loved ones - make extraordinary contributions every day. Yet many do so without the recognition or resources they deserve.

Fiona Wilson, Chief Officer of ELHSCP comments:

“Carers Week is a powerful reminder of the essential work unpaid carers do. This year’s theme of caring about equality reflects our commitment to ensuring that every carer in East Lothian is seen, supported and treated fairly. Whether it’s through better access to respite, mental health support, or opportunities to stay connected, we are working hard to break down barriers and build a more inclusive culture for carers.”

Throughout the week, ELHSCP and local partners will be:

• Promoting carer support services such as those offered by Carers of East Lothian and East Lothian Young Carers Service, including counselling, benefits advice, and emergency planning.
• Sharing carers’ stories on social media to highlight the diversity of caring experiences and challenge stigma.

As part of Carers Week, Carers of East Lothian have brought together a programme of free activities taking place across East Lothian to help carers relax, connect, and feel celebrated. The schedule includes everything from afternoon tea and guided walks to cycling, golf taster sessions, meditation, and water sports. There's also a family film screening in Tranent and an art exhibition in Edinburgh showcasing work by unpaid carers. All events are free to attend but require advance booking - full details can be found at www.coel.org.uk/events.

Many people don’t identify themselves as carers, as they see what they do as simply helping out family or friends. However recognising this role can be the first step to getting valuable support.

Help us reach hidden carers. If you or someone you know looks after someone who couldn’t manage without help, you/they are a carer - and there’s help available.

To find out more, visit https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/support-for-carers
or Carers of East Lothian at  https://www.coel.org.uk