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