Today marks the start of Carers Week, which is an annual campaign to raise awareness of unpaid carers, recognise the challenges that they face in their caring duties, and highlight the amazing contribution they make to families all across the country.
A carer is anyone who looks after a friend, family member, or loved one who has a mental or physical illness, disability, or simply needs a bit of extra help as they grow older. Caring is an important responsibility in many peoples’ lives, but the impact this can have on an individual basis can be significant.
It is important that carers are provided with the information and support that they need to carry out their caring duties and live a fulfilling life themselves. Here at Space we are dedicated to supporting unpaid carers in our community and we provide a range of services to help carers of all ages. We provide one-to-one support, along with engaging and informative group sessions on a regular basis. We currently offer three support group activities:
Adult Carer Support Group (25+) – This is a welcoming, supportive place for adult carers to meet with others who understand exactly the experience of caring for a loved one. Along with being a space to relax and unwind for a couple of hours, group sessions provide a variety of information relevant to your role as a carer – such as benefits advice, and avoiding fraud or online scams. Sessions take place on the last Wednesday of every month here at The Broomhouse Hub. If you’re interested in joining, please get in touch with Jude on 07749496015 or e-mail jude.balfour@spacescot.org to register before attending your first session!
Young Adult Carers Group (18 to 25) – This group is geared specifically towards young adults and meeting their individual needs, such as support to focus on college or university, or guidance on benefits advice once they enter the workplace. The group meets in The Hub every Wednesday between 6pm and 8pm. We also work closely with our Learning and Development team to provide advice and practical support on employability skills and work experience opportunities. If you are a young adult carer and would like to learn more, contact Scott on 07725736410 or by e-mail on scott.troup@spacescot.org.
Young Carers Group (5 to 17) – This group is designed to give young carers a much-needed safe space with other young people to relax and enjoy a break from their caring responsibilities. Sessions take place four times a week between 5pm and 8pm here at The Hub, with frequent trips to great places such as Gravity’s trampoline park! Please contact Kerry on 07566796227 or e-mail kerry.smith@spacescot.org to find out more details about availability and how to register a young carer for this fun and interactive group activity.
If you support a young carer, or have caring responsibilities yourself, we are here to provide the help and guidance you need. If you are unsure about what support you are entitled to, or have any questions about any of the above, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! Give us a call on 0131 455 7731 or e-mail admin@spacescot.org and we will put you in touch with a member of our team that can help.
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Interested in making a difference and helping to support unpaid carers? We are currently looking for volunteers for our active Young Carers Group! A great opportunity to give back to your community while gaining valuable youth work experience. Read more about the details of the role here.