That the Parliament acknowledges the 19th Scottish Young Carers Festival, which will take place from 4 to 6 August 2026; welcomes the three-day residential event, which receives funding from Scottish Government and is hosted by Carers Trust; understands that the festival will bring together more than 500 young carers from across Scotland, providing an important short break and access to age-appropriate opportunities, activities and experiences shaped by their needs and interests; acknowledges that the festival provides what it considers to be a unique platform for young carers to be children and young people first, relieving the pressures of their caring responsibilities; recognises the importance of short breaks in supporting young carers’ health, wellbeing and future opportunities; further recognises the value of the festival in enabling young carers to connect with peers who share similar experiences and in creating opportunities for young carers to contribute their views and lived experience to national discussions; believes that young carers should be identified as early as possible in education, health and other public services so that their rights are upheld and they can access the support to which they are entitled; calls for every school, college and university to have a designated Young Carer or Student Carer Lead within its staff team; recognises what it sees as the vital contribution that local carer services make in supporting young carers and unpaid carers across Scotland; believes that young carers should have access to holistic support that enables them to achieve fair futures and fulfil their potential; values the immense contribution that young carers make to society, and wishes everyone attending the festival a very enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Supported by: Steven Bonnar, Martyn Day, Paul Sweeney