Carers Trust Scotland is teaming up with the Hope Programme to offer carers the opportunity to engage in a 6-week digital self-management course based on positive psychology, mindfulness and cognitive behavioural theory, built on 20 years of research evidence from Coventry University. Carers engaged in the programme will be provided the tools to build their knowledge, skills and confidence whilst helping each other.

The course is run by trained facilitators and includes quizzes, worksheets, audio/video materials, interactive gratitude and goal setting. Ultimately the sessions will help carers to self-manage whatever difficult circumstances that they find themselves in, developing psychological strengths of hopefulness, optimism, confidence and resilience. The outcomes we are seeking to contribute to is that carers will have greater knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their unpaid caring responsibilities, so that their quality of life, and mental health and wellbeing improve, and they feel less lonely and isolated.

The six-week course is aimed at Adult Carers (aged 18+). Carers involved in the Hope Programme complete it as individuals with the course held on the Hope Programme digital platform, carers can dip in and out as they wish. Sessions are released at the same time each week and it takes about two hours to go through each session, but carers can do this at their own pace and time that suits. Hope Programme have informed me that some participants do chunks of 20mins and do more or less whenever they can find the time. The Hope Programme do bring participants together for Session 3 which is a live mindfulness session. Carers involved in the programme will be supported and encouraged by trained peer facilitators along the way. This short video https://vimeo.com/535975948/37dfbb4ced provides some more insight into the course.

Please contact us at Shetland Carers if you would like to be involved in the programme. Tel 01595 743 980, email carers@shetland.org