£50,000 boost for student carers
(UKPA) 2 hours ago
Funding of £50,000 is being made available to support college students who have responsibility as carers.
Scotland’s Colleges, the body which represents and promotes the college sector, will receive the money from the Scottish Government to identify and help carers studying further education courses in 2012/13.
Speaking ahead of Carers Week 2012, public health minister Michael Matheson said the cash was part of an ongoing commitment to ensure young carers have the same opportunities as other young people to fulfil their potential in education.
Carers Week, which runs from tomorrow until Sunday, is a consortium of eight national charities comprising Age UK, Carers Trust, Carers UK, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, MS Society and Parkinson’s UK.
Mr Matheson said: “Carers play an important role and make a valuable contribution to the provision of care within local communities.
“We are determined to ensure that carers are supported to manage their caring responsibilities with confidence and in good health, but also to have a life of their own outside of caring.
“We are investing at least £46 million over the next three years to support carers of older people through our innovative change fund and have made £5 million available this year to support carers and young carers through the work of health boards.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to support young carers we want to ensure they have the same opportunities as other young people to fulfil their potential in education in order to move on to employment or training, or to pursue other ambitions.
“This is why I want the funding being announced today to ensure having caring responsibilities are no barrier to the taking-up, and successful completion of, further education courses.”
Education Secretary Michael Russell added: “Going to college or university is an important learning experience and route into employment for many people. That’s why we are working to make sure as many people as possible are able to study the course that’s right for them, and there’s no doubt this funding will help make that a reality for more young carers.”
