TO ALLOW YOUNG CARERS THROUGHOUT SKYE AND LOCHALSH TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND WEEKLY GROUP SESSIONS AS WELL AS RESPITE DAY TRIPS.
Estimated Price
£52,480
Provide respite trips, these can be local activities include boat trips, beach bbq, axe throwing as well as day trips to Inverness throughout school holidays, go karting, laser tag, and many more, the cost of which includes a meal and transport provisions. Due to our geographical area, transport can be provided by staff, volunteers, our minibus and out sourced to local taxi companies, all of which is covered by the service.
Provide session transport for all young carers to attend their weekly group session and return journey for primary aged young carers and outlying high school young carers, this again can be provided by staff and volunteers, as well as the service minibus and local taxi companies. With the cost of fuel, transport costs have increased, again all costs are covered by the service. Transport costs are one of our larger expenses on a weekly basis.
Group session material costs. This includes a healthy snack for all young carers on arrival to group, art and craft activities and resources, life skill challenge work (this may include trips to local fire stations, lifeboats along with activities held onsite etc). As well as reusable activities such as board games, toys, outdoor equipment, computer games
This project is important to the community of skye, lochalsh and raasay as it strengthens the community by providing an essential service and support to the young carers. Our young carers are widely dispersed across skye and lochalsh giving logistical challenges which can also mean they are more isolated, we are delivering our service across a dispersed population and by bringing the young carers together addresses some of their isolation. The significant role they have in supporting someone else with a disability, illness, condition or frailty has an adverse impact on their health and wellbeing. As many as 50% of young carers miss some schooling with 25% leaving with no qualifications. As young carers prioritise the needs of someone else, they will often neglect their own needs, wishes and future aspirations, because of this they are at risk of underachieving their social and educational potential in society.
The positive impact that our project has is immense, providing weekly group sessions where the young carers can meet others with the same responsibility’s as themselves, having a safe and supportive space to talk with peers and/or support workers. This time is often the only time they have for themselves, between their young carer role at home and school group sessions are greatly looked forward too by all the young carers. We aim for our respite trips to offer the young carers experiences that they may not of been able to take part in due to their caring role, family limitations as well as financial restrictions. The group sessions and respite trips are also beneficial to the families as often the feel they are not able to provide experiences for their children/families due to their own health or family dynamic.
Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers has been providing a supportive Young Carers service for 26 years and is highly regarded in the local community, with many fundraising event throughout the region, including gala days, agricultural shows, soup and puudings and many other events. We are well supported at these events and through our SLIDE card scheme. For the service to continue we rely on large grant funding, with applications being submitted in the near future. As well as council funding we are confident the service will continue for many more years. We have recieved planning permission for a new build and are currently working on the warrent stage of a bespoke new build, that the young carers have been involved in the design and planning of.
Our anticipated start date is 1st July 2026 with end date of the 31st December 2026.
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