Carers Week 2019
East Lothian Integration Joint Board Chair and East Lothian Council Health and Social Care spokesperson Councillor Fiona O’Donnell today thanked East Lothian’s Carers. She said:
There are around 12,000 carers in East Lothian and unpaid carers across the UK save the economy around £132 billion every year. Carers’ Week is an annual 'thank you' to our unsung heroes.
‘This year I am delighted to say that again East Lothian businesses have come up trumps with lots of discounts and freebies for people who use the East Lothian Carer Card. I want to say a heartfelt thanks for all the very kind offers that we’ve had, which include cream teas, beauty treatments, therapies, a distillery tour and biking and outdoor adventures. It is wonderful to see businesses big and small getting behind Carers Week.
‘East Lothian Integration Joint Board has also been working all out for carers. We have increased funding for carers to over £355,000 this year, which means more for carer support workers, counselling and micro grants for short breaks. It means more Young Carers Club places, support for the Schools' Young Carers worker and transitions support. It also means more for individual carer budgets. There's lots more to do but we have made a good start.’
Find out more about support for unpaid carers in East Lothian, including the East Lothian Carer Card 2019, by visiting our Carers section.