Hansard

I thank my colleague Sandra White for securing the debate, and I join Sandra White and Jeremy Balfour in welcoming our guests to the gallery. I, too, extend my apologies for the fact that we are beginning the debate only now, well past the witching hour for the Parliament.

I intend to make only a few remarks. I thank all those who were involved at the inception of the charter of rights, all those who have worked to deliver on it over the past 10 years and those who are committed to building on it.

I want to centre my remarks on the issue of participation. It is clearly important to have a high-level strategy, but ultimately what matters is the delivery of that strategy and how it changes the circumstances of those on whom such strategies are designed to have an impact. It is about what happens on the ground.

I have witnessed at first hand in my constituency some of the excellent work that has been undertaken to improve the wellbeing of, and opportunities for, those with dementia and those who care for people with dementia. I highlight two groups: dementia friendly Johnstone and dementia friendly Lochwinnoch. Both are relatively new, but they are already blazing a trail across Renfrewshire to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers.

Earlier today I spoke with Karen McShane, who set up dementia friendly Johnstone. The group is pushing ahead, engaging with Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet to offer day trips for people with dementia and their carers. The Lochwinnoch group, which has been established for about two years, is also making a profound difference. There are regular tea dances, where I am regularly shown up for not being able to do the slosh. The group also engages in a lot of activities that empower people with dementia and their carers.

Another aspect concerns those with dementia, and those who care for them, who are in employment. My understanding is that around 18 per cent of people under the age of 65 with dementia in the UK continue to work after diagnosis, and 93 per cent of working carers in the UK report that looking after someone with dementia has affected their capacity to work. As a result, I have tried, during my time in Parliament, to be a champion for the Carer Positive initiative, which is a Scottish Government-backed scheme delivered by Carers Scotland. It seeks to recognise and support those employers who have workplace practices that recognise the unique challenges that those who combine working with caring responsibilities face. I have tried to encourage as many employers as possible across my constituency of Renfrewshire South to become Carer Positive employers.

Once again, I urge members on all sides of the chamber to become, if they are not already, Carer Positive employers. I also ask members to engage with businesses and organisations across their constituencies and regions to encourage them to become Carer Positive employers. Let us look forward to the next 10 years of making the charter a reality for people.