Hansard

I thank my colleague Paul O’Kane for introducing his members’ business debate. I am absolutely delighted to speak in praise of our young carers and their support staff across Scotland, and I warmly welcome the young carers in the gallery, including those from my constituency.

Ahead of the debate, I was reflecting on last year’s members’ business debate, which Karen Adam led and in which we talked about the important role that schools play in supporting young carers. Olivia and Sara are here today from Braehead primary school, along with young carer co-ordinators Mrs Lawrie and Miss Light. When I recently visited them at school, they gave an excellent presentation on what it means to them to be a young carer. The school is an exemplar and one of only six schools in Stirling to have achieved the “We recognise” and “We develop” levels of the we care award.

It was amazing to see what has been embedded in the school. Being a young carer is celebrated and achievements are shared with the whole school; there is no stigma; and the co-ordinators are always actively looking for young carers to ensure that they are supported. Young carers can access breakout spaces and sensory rooms when they need a break from their classes. There is a “problems shared, problems halved” box where young carers can submit concerns to be discussed with co-ordinators. They also spend one afternoon a week together doing fun activities such as cooking and crafts, or sometimes just chatting and playing board games.

The theme of this year’s action day is, as we have heard, “give me a break”. The ability to take time out within the school day is important, as are the relationships built in young carers groups. Local young carers have said that

"my young carers group is kind and supportive and has helped me come a long way. I now feel less alone and mentally happier. I feel like I am coping better because I have met others who are also going through it."

Along with breaks in the school day, longer residential breaks are important, too, because having the time to switch off, to be themselves and to have fun is invaluable to young carers. Esther Keane, the young carers officer at Stirling Carers Centre, told me that, in schools, particularly high schools, young carer co-ordinators often no longer have dedicated time in their timetables to run support groups. Demand for residential breaks is high and there are often waiting lists. She pointed out that those incredible young people take on the responsibilities that are normally expected of adults. We must recognise the toll that that can take and ensure that support is in place, including through access to breaks.

Looking at Braehead primary school, we can clearly see the positive impacts of embedded access to breaks. Mrs Lawrie and Miss Light told me that

“the resources and spaces we have available allow our children to thrive in an environment where they might not necessarily have done before. We have children now approaching us to advocate for themselves and seek support that they think they need. Breaks, and relationships built during them, are vital.”

I call on the Government to set out how it will engage with local authorities and work to ensure that breaks, both within the school week and in the form of longer residentials, are widely available.

Lastly, I want to give a quick shout-out to Robert Cairney for all his work in the area. He, too, is in the gallery today.