That the Parliament notes that 16 March 2021 marks Young Carers Action Day, and welcomes the annual campaign initiative, led by Carers Trust Scotland; commends the immense contribution that young carers and young adult carers make to society by caring for their family or friends who are ill, frail, disabled or have mental health or addiction problems; values that Carers Trust has worked with a steering group of both young carers and young adult carers to plan Young Carers Action Day, and welcomes the 2021 theme, Protect Young Carers’ Futures; understands that the pandemic has significantly impacted young people with caring responsibilities, including their education and health and wellbeing, which should not be underestimated; notes that recent Carers Trust Scotland research found that over two thirds of young carers aged 12 to 17, and 85% of young adult carers aged 18 to 25, were experiencing increased concern for their futures since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; appreciates that young carers want lasting meaningful change to take place to ensure young carers now, and in the future, remain at the forefront of policy development and have access to the support they may need; notes the calls for a new young carers National Action Plan that holistically addresses education, employability and health and wellbeing for young carers, which it considers would be a progressive step forward to "protect young carers’ futures"; calls for young carers across Scotland to have a fair chance to prosper in all aspects of their lives so that they can achieve their full potential, and wishes all those involved in this year’s #YoungCarersActionDay the very best of luck in their endeavours.
Supported by:
Clare Adamson, Claudia Beamish, Miles Briggs, Bruce Crawford, James Dornan, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Mark Griffin, Bill Kidd, Monica Lennon, Richard Lyle, Fulton MacGregor, Rona Mackay, Gillian Martin, John Mason, Joan McAlpine, Stuart McMillan, Gil Paterson, Alex Rowley, Stewart Stevenson, David Torrance, Sandra White, Beatrice Wishart