In 2010 the Scottish Government published their first national Young Carers Strategy ‘Getting it Right for Young Carers, The Young Carers Strategy for Scotland 2010-2015’. This strategy recognises that the demands of caring can have an adverse impact on Young Carers' health and wellbeing and the responsibilities of caring can deny a young person their right to a childhood.

The Psychological Service took on the task of developing a resource pack with the aim of increasing awareness of Young Carers in Shetland. In turn, it is hoped that this will feed into the wider aim of improving processes of identification and support across schools and partner agencies.

The information contained in this resource has been adapted from a previous edition of Supporting Young Carers: A resource for schools, which was produced by the Orkney Young Carers Service. We are extremely grateful to the Orkney Young Carers Service for allowing us to reproduce their resource. We would also like to acknowledge the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, as much of the information contained in Orkney’s resource was taken from an original document which they produced.

Our Shetland Carers Working group in partnership with Shetland Islands Council have finalised documents for 'Identifying and Guidance Notes on Young Carers'. Within this resource there is eligibility criteria, maca questionnaire, guidance notes, initial conversation record, staff training e-module and a referral form, which can also be completed online through our website.

Young Carers Information – Shetland Islands Council

If you need any help with using the resource or working with Young Carers, please contact Laura Mackenzie on 01595 743906 / 07766679583 or email [email protected]. We do have access to some grants that may help Young Carers, as well as offering a peer support group.

We are also able to provide 1:1 support to ensure carers feel supported in their caring role.

If you would like to refer to Shetland Carers, please complete the Young Carers referral form or if you would like a paper copy please email [email protected]

The Toolkit and Resource Pack can be viewed by clicking on the various links below :

• Young Carers Toolkit for Primary Schools
• Section 1 - How to Use this Pack
• Section 2 - About Young Carers
• Section 3 - Young Carers and Barriers to Learning
• Section 4 - Identifying Young Carers
• Section 5 - Supporting Young Carers
• Section 6 - Developing School Policy and Raising Awareness
• Section 7 - Additional Support and Useful Links
• Section 8 - Additional Resources

Carers Trust Scotland have shared a brilliant resource for any health and social care workers on how to support a Young Carer.

Through this line of work, you may meet a Young Carer and, with watching this video, it will give you more facts about Young Carers, helpful hints and some Young Carers own experiences.

Click HERE to watch the 5-minute short video and please feel free to share with colleagues.

This @NHS_Education animation created with @CarersTrustScot @SG_CarersPolicy & Young Carers will help you identify, involve & support Young Carers in your practice

Supporting Young Carers (with Subtitles) on Vimeo