Young adult carers

Identifying your role as an unpaid carer can be difficult. Perhaps someone else in your circle of family and friends also cares for the same person. We recognise that the person you look after – whether a friend, sibling, parent, other family member or flatmate – relies on you, and the support you give them is valuable.

Alongside your caring role, you may be thinking about your future, whether that’s education, volunteering or work. It might be difficult to make plans when you have a caring role. 

We usually support carers aged 18 or over. We can also sometimes support younger carers (age 16 or 17), for example if you: 

• Have left school or don’t receive carer support from your school
• Don’t have access to support from a young carer organisation
• Feel ready to move into adult carer support services

In some cases, support from a local young carer organisation may be more suitable. If this applies to you, we will help you contact them.

Our services for young adult carers

Peer support groups 

On the first Wednesday of every month, we run a free group for young adult carers in Midlothian. This is a chance to take a short break, connect with others who understand your situation, or get some advice. 

Each month we talk about a different topic affecting young carers. You don’t need to come every month.

This event is part of our Carer Training programme: free events in Edinburgh and Midlothian for unpaid carers registered with us. Our activities range from informational sessions on your rights, to arts and crafts, to yoga, pilates or walking groups.

Breaks from caring 

Short breaks from caring can look different for everyone, and we encourage you to think creatively about what a break means to you. It might be a gym membership, a magazine subscription, or a trip away – anything that creates space and time away from your caring routines. 

We offer short breaks funding for carers age 18 or over through our Wee Breaks service.

Edinburgh

Funded by Shared Care Scotland’s Time to Live Fund, we have a Young Carers initiative to help more young carers access short breaks from your caring role. 

This is open to young carers and young adult carers (age 5 to 25) in Edinburgh who are already supported by our partner organisations Edinburgh Young Carers, Capital Carers, or Space.  

To access this funding, please speak to the partner organisation supporting you first.

Midlothian

For young adult carers age 18 and over, you can apply for a short break from caring through our Wee Breaks Fund.

For young carers under age 18, please see information below about the Time2Chill fund from Midlothian Council.

Help from other organisations 

There are three young carer services in Edinburgh which provide peer groups, individual support, residential and day trips, counselling, and more: 

In Midlothian, you can access the Young Carers Project through Midlothian Council. This is open to young carers and young adult carers:

Young Carers Package from Young Scot 

The Young Carers Package is a programme of rewards, prizes and opportunities for young carers in Scotland, aged 11 to 18. It’s free to sign up. 

Young carer grant from Social Security Scotland 

16 to 18-year-olds in Scotland can get one grant per year from Social Security Scotland, if: 

• You have been caring for 1, 2 or 3 people, for an average of 16 hours a week, for the last 3 months or more 
• You do not receive Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment 
• The person or people you care for receive any of these disability benefits: 
  • The daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) 
  • The middle or highest care rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), including Child Disability Living Allowance 
  • The middle or highest care rate of Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA) 
  • The middle or highest care rate of Child Disability Payment (CDP) 
  • The daily living component of Adult Disability Payment (ADP) 
  • Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) 
  • Attendance Allowance 
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment 
  • Constant Attendance Allowance 

Find out more information about the young carer grant and how to apply at:

If you care for someone for more than 35 hours a week, you may be eligible for Carer Support Payment instead.

Your rights

If you are under 18, the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 gives you the right to a Young Carer Statement (YCS). This is a document which explains your personal circumstances, outcomes and needs as a carer.  

You can speak to someone at VOCAL, or another support organisation, to create this. We will write down the key points from a conversation with you about your caring role, your goals and what is important to you. 

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 also gives adult carers – anyone over 18 – the right to an Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP), which is a similar document and process. When you turn 18, you can continue using your Young Carer Statement until you get an ACSP. 

Carers Trust has a document which explains the words and phrases used in the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016. This can help you understand the most important sections of the act that are relevant to you. 

The Scottish Government has a document which explains what it means to be an adult carer or young carer, and what you are entitled to. 

You are also protected by other laws, such as the Equality Act 2010. Find out more in our Carers’ rights section.