Fairer Futures for Young Carers

Councillors, Head Teachers, schools, local groups and council services pledged support for the county's young carers to mark Young Carers Action Day 2024 which took place on Wednesday 13 March 2024. 

The national action day raises awareness of Young Carers and the ways that organisations and society can help them to balance caring responsibilities with their rights to the same experiences and opportunities as their peers.  2024's theme is "Fair Futures for Young Carers". 

Cabinet member for Education and Children's and Family Services Councillor Fiona Dugdale made her own pledge, telling young carers: "You dedicate time and care for others. Caring for others should not mean barriers to your ambitions. I promise to do everything I can to remove these barriers and to help you support you to fulfill your potential."

450 children have identified themselves as young carers by completing Young Carer registrations although it is believed that the true number is higher than that.

Across East Lothian people have shared their pledges, some of which include:

• " I pledge that we will create fairer futures for Young Carers by continuing our work in schools, by developing closer links with orgaisations that support Young Carers into further education, employment and training opportunities, Marie Prior, East Lothian Council's Young Carers Coordinator
• "We pledge to continue to put our Young Carers' views at the heart of what we do. We pledge to always listen to what our brilliant Young Carers in East Lothian tell us and to be guided by you in the support we offer." East Lothian Young Carers
• "I will raise awareness of the needs of Young Carers not only with Head Teachers and other school staff, but also with other services across the Council. I will highlight the good practice across our schools to promote the expectation of an East Lothian-wide approach to meeting the needs of our Young Carers." Nicola McDowell, East Lothian Council Head of Education
• "Our pledge is to make time for a Campie Catch-up once a month" Campie Primary School
• “I pledge to support fair funding of the Young Carers Service to ensure Young Carers have access to advice, information, support and breaks from caring, to take a break and enjoy the same opportunities as other young people.” Maria Burton, East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership
• "We at Carers of East Lothian pledge to raise awareness of the available support for young carers and their rights whenever we become aware of a young carer within the families that we are supporting." Carers of East Lothian
• “I pledge to raise awareness and support Young Carers by displaying posters and materials around our school community, and by featuring at school assemblies”, Ronnie Taylor, Head Teacher, Law Primary School
• “East Lothian Hockey pledges to provide young carers with free opportunities to participate in hockey and raise awareness about young carers in the hockey community”, Mhairi McGregor, East Lothian Hockey Co-Ordinator
• "East Lothian Active Schools and Sports Development look forward to supporting young carers to get active" Active Schools and Sports Development teams

Find out more about the support available for Young Carers and watch a video of pledges.