Community / Extra help for unpaid carers
TWO CHARITIES based at Lerwick’s Market House are able to offer additional help to unpaid carers thanks to grant funding from Shetland Charitable Trust worth almost £40,000.
Voluntary Action Shetland (VAS) and Shetland Care Attendant Scheme (SCAS) both offer assistance to local unpaid carers wanting short breaks from their role.
As part of the funding, VAS has now launched a new short break grant scheme aimed at unpaid carers who are providing a significant amount of care to someone under 21 years.
Time for Me aims to encourage carers to apply in order to have some time out for themselves. It complements an existing VAS grant scheme for carers called Time to Live.
VAS Carer Support Worker Kirsten Harcus said: “We know how important it is for carers look after their own health and wellbeing.
“Having a one off break or a regular break from their caring role gives the carer something to look forward as well as providing valuable respite.”
Meanwhile, the charitable trust funding will help SCAS to provide regular breaks to more carers throughout Shetland by providing trained care attendants to look after the people when the primary carer is not available or on a short break.
For more information about support for unpaid carers visit their website at www.shetlandcarers.org or Shetland Carers’ Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ShetlandCarers
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
