Hansard

I thank Paul O’Kane, my colleague on the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, for securing this important debate. I know that the subject is close to his heart and that he is passionate about promoting the voices of young carers in the Parliament. I extend a very warm welcome to the young carers who have joined us in the gallery. It is truly an honour for us to have them here.

It was a privilege for me to secure the debate on young carers action day last year, as my colleague Evelyn Tweed noted. I was prompted to do so by young carers in my constituency, and their courage, resilience and determination have left a lasting impression on me. It is because of them and the thousands of young carers across Scotland that we are here again today, ensuring that their voices are heard.

Jeremy Balfour spoke about his lived experience at home, which prompted me to score out some of the lines in my speech and to speak from the heart. I have children with additional support needs. As my other children grew up, they had to support them and me in the home. Often, we wonder what it is like to be a carer. If we were to ask someone what that looks like, we might imagine a carer physically helping someone by feeding them, changing them and caring for them, but, a lot of the time, caring might not be like that at all.

A young carer or sibling carer might need to quickly vacuum the living room after some kind of messy explosion while the parent nips out to clean up and fix up the child who has the additional support needs. Sometimes, the sibling might need to run to grab a pair of socks, because the child needs to be dressed, or to do other wee errands around the house.

We do not often acknowledge that that is what caring can be or look like. A young carer might have to stay up through the night, because their sibling is restless and making noise, and then go to school very tired. They might have to miss out on days out and trips, because their sibling has additional needs, but still find patience and kindness at home. It can mean that their parents’ time is shared unevenly. Being a carer, specifically a young carer, means a lot.

This year’s young carers action day theme—“give me a break” or “geezabreak”—could not be more fitting. It highlights two critical areas of support that young carers desperately need: time for themselves to rest and greater understanding and flexibility from schools, colleges, universities and workplaces.

I am here today in the chamber because the young carers who supported me in caring for their siblings when they were growing up are now, as adults, keeping things ticking over at home. Young carers do not stop caring; they grow into adult carers. That is what usually happens. It is up to all of us to ensure that their voices are heard.

Young carers in my constituency hold me to account. This week, one emailed me to make sure that I was doing something for young carers action day. I say to my constituent: I am here and I am keeping your voice going. I say to the young carers in the gallery and to those who could not be here today: we see you, we value you and we recognise everything that you do. What you do matters more than you will ever know.