Current status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 21 September 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to improve the availability and coordination of both online and offline access to information regarding carer support services, short break opportunities and support for disabled children and young people and their families, in light of research by Family Fund indicating that only 7% of surveyed families raising disabled children met the criteria for digital inclusion.
The Scottish Government provides grant funding to Family Fund, some of which enables low income families raising disabled children to purchase technology. In 2025-26, they received £3.18m (including £250k additional funding via Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan). In 2026-27 they have been awarded £2.974m.
In 2025-26, this enabled families to purchase the following to support their digital access:
Under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, every area must have a local carer information and advice service providing information on a range of issues including support available. That information and advice must be accessible to carers and proportionate to their needs. These services are normally delivered via local carer centres and accessible via phone or face to face, as well as providing online information. Unpaid carers can also approach their local authority for information and advice about support. On a national basis, Care Information Scotland provides information on carers rights to support, which is available online or by telephone.
The Scottish Government is committed to improving awareness and take-up of support for unpaid carers through implementation of Section 13 of the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025. Work is underway to develop the necessary regulations and engage with key stakeholders to support a more proactive, preventative and rights-based approach to carer support.
Social Security Scotland local delivery advisers can provide information and signposting including referral to the Independent Advocacy Service by a range of methods to suit people’s needs, including through client letters, emails, texts, leaflets, and online content.
The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 also requires local authorities to prepare and publish a short breaks services statement to ensure that local carers and those that they care for can easily access information about what short breaks services and opportunities are available to them in their local area.
The Shared Care Scotland short breaks directory gives online access to short breaks and they also provide a telephone enquiry service for those that don’t have access to the internet or those who can’t find what they’re looking for online.
Our Parent Club website provides advice for parents of disabled children and young people on the organisations, benefits and services available. Included in Parent Club is the Family Support Directory which provides together all the helpful organisations, benefits and information that support parents and carers, no matter what their situation or stage their child is at.
Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is Scotland's approach for meeting the needs of children, young people and their families, including those with additional support needs. One of the core components of the GIRFEC approach is the offer of advice and support from the named person. The role of a named person, or equivalent role, is to provide a clear point of contact within universal services for information, advice or help. They can refer the child or young person and their families to support within their own service, or request support from other services or agencies. A named person is usually a health visitor until children start school, and a head or senior teacher thereafter.