MSP Jackie Baillie has welcomed a new resource, aimed at helping carers find vital information on short breaks.
Shared Care Scotland’s Short Breaks Directory offers a wealth of information on accessing breaks from the strain of caring.
Data suggests there are 800,000 unpaid carers in Scotland, caring for loved ones and family members, many of whom go without a holiday or respite.
These unsung carers are thought to provide care to the value of £36bn, making them vital to the Scottish economy.
As many as 35% of Scottish carers report having been unable to take a break from their role in the past year.
With figures showing that three in five are likely to become carers during their lifetime, it is vital that information on short breaks and holidays is at their fingertips.
A range of information is available on the not-for-profit Shared Care Scotland website, including access to the Short Breaks Directory, which offers support to individuals, families and organisations who require respite.
Dumbarton constituency MSP Jackie Baillie said: “With increasing demands on public service budgets, as well as a stark rise in those living longer with chronic health conditions, unpaid and family carers provide a valuable service to both loved ones and the economy and save the state a sizeable sum.
“It is important that these unsung heroes also look after their own health so they can better care for others and the value of a short break to those in caring roles cannot be underestimated.
“I welcome any resource which assists carers in securing the breaks that they so desperately need and deserve.”
The directory provides a comprehensive and easily-accessible platform to connect people with a wide-range of short break providers across the country and serves as a centralised hub for information on various short break options available in Scotland, catering to different needs and preferences.
It includes entries for various types of providers, such as holiday accommodation, day services, activity groups and more, featuring a responsive search function to ensure that users can find the most suitable respite options for themselves or their loved ones.
Options can be filtered by age, care needs, location, and type of break.
All information on the directory is verified and a series of quality checks is undertaken on an ongoing basis to ensure that every entry is validated, including contact details and price information.
More information can be found at: https://www.sharedcarescotland.org.uk/short-breaks-fund/ and at: https://www.sharedcarescotland.org.uk/media/yogdyno0/scs_short_guide_short_breaks.pdf
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