News releases

Carers Scotland calls for radical overhaul of benefits and care system to prevent carers reaching breaking point
08 June 2009 Charity reacts to new research published for Carers Week showing carers are suffering breakdowns and extreme levels of stress.

Carers ‘ignoring own health" urged to get health checks
08 June 2009 Carers Scotland, Carers UK and Lloydspharmacy partnership offers free heart health checks during Carers Week to tackle poor health for unpaid carers

Carers Scotland supports Food Safety Week 2009
18 May 2009 Carers Scotland is supporting this year's Food Safety Week from 15–21 June 2009 and will be disseminating information to carers throughout Scotland.

Carers Scotland are moving
08 May 2009 Carers Scotland are moving from our current office in Mitchell Street, Glasgow

Free healthchecks for carers during Carers Week
06 May 2009 Carers Scotland and Carers UK have teamed up with Lloydspharmacy to offer carers free health checks at local pharmacies during this year's Carers Week.

Discrimination against carers to be outlawed in forthcoming Bill
02 April 2009 The Government has today announced that it intends to ban discrimination against carers by protecting people who are ‘associated with’ someone who is disabled. This will apply in employment and in the provision of goods, facilities and services.

Protest : update from the carer poverty protest group
10 March 2009 A group of carers angry at the continued lack of improvements to carers’ benefits are organising a day of protests. On April 22nd 2009 protests will take place in Edinburgh and London.

Carers to be included in new savings scheme
27 February 2009 From 2010, there will be a new government supported saving scheme called the 'Saving Gateway' which will help people save by making a Government contribution of 50p for every pound saved. Yesterday the Government agreed to include carers in the scheme, with Economic Secretary Ian Pearson announcing that he will amend the legislation when it is next debated.

Groups urged to register for Carers Week 2009
09 February 2009 Groups and organisations around the UK are being urged to register for Carers Week 2009.

Government backs down over Jobseeker’s Allowance plan
10 December 2008 Carers Scotland and Carers UK have welcomed the Government’s change of heart over its proposal to move carers claiming Income Support onto a modified version of Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Dramatic increase in carer poverty
05 December 2008 New research unveils extreme hardship amongst Scotland’s unpaid carers

Money expert backs Carers Rights Day
05 December 2008 GMTV's money saving expert Martin Lewis has given his backing to Carers Rights Day

Carers given immediate protection against discrimination and harassment at work
28 November 2008 The Employment Tribunal in London has ruled that protection for carers against discrimination “by association with disability” can be given under existing UK law, paving the way for carers to make immediate claims against their employers if they are treated unfairly.

Chancellor brings some Christmas cheer for carers with £60 bonus
25 November 2008 Carers Scotland has welcomed yesterday’s announcement by the Chancellor Alistair Darling MP that all carers who are entitled to Carer’s Allowance will receive an additional payment of £60. This is on top of the usual £10 Christmas Bonus which they will receive. The increase will be paid automatically in the New Year to all those who qualify.

General practices promote the positive health of carers
07 October 2008 Carers Scotland will hold a major national conference, in partnership with NHS Education Scotland, in Edinburgh on 7 October 2008. The Conference will highlight the benefits to carers and those they care for and, to local health services, of providing Scotland’s 660,000 unpaid carers with the support to improve their health and wellbeing. It will also provide examples of best practice and be addressed by Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health.

Reaction to Work and Pensions Select Committee report "Valuing and supporting carers"
29 August 2008 An influential committee of MPs have today published a report on the support available to carers. Carers Scotland and Carers UK have welcomed their call for replacement of the current 'outdated' carers' benefits.

Unpaid carers to get protection at work following landmark European Court of Justice case
17 July 2008 The European Court of Justice today ruled that the laws which protect disabled people against discrimination apply not only to the person themselves, but also to their unpaid carer.

Carers Scotland welcomes more breaks for carers
17 July 2008 Carers Scotland warmly welcomes the announcement made by Shona Robison, the Minister for Public Health, to provide an additional 10,000 extra weeks of respite care for Scotland’s 660,000 unpaid carers.

Scotland’s unpaid carers let down!
10 June 2008 UK Strategy fails to deliver on better benefits for Scotland's carers

Caring costs Scotland’s carers dear!
09 June 2008 New evidence shows that 77% of unpaid carers’ health suffers as a result of caring.

Carers hit by abolition of 10p tax rate
22 April 2008 A charity representing the Scotland’s 660,000 carers today called on Government to compensate carers affected by the recent tax changes, including the abolition of the 10p tax rate.

Carers urged to check council tax
01 April 2008 With Council Tax bills for 2008 now being issued Carers Scotland is urging carers to make sure they are paying the correct amount. It is not widely publicised but some carers could qualify for up to 50% off their council tax bills.

Unpaid carers’ learning celebrated in film premiere
04 March 2008 Carers Scotland in partnership with learndirect scotland, Glasgow College of Nautical Studies, City & Guilds and Heirloom Media Ltd will premiere a short film on 6 March 2008 at the Glasgow Film Theatre, 12 Rose Street, Glasgow. The film features four unpaid carers who have stepped back into learning and undertaken the Learning for Living programme.

Carers Scotland welcomes Select Committee inquiry into the DWP's approach to carers
29 February 2008 Carers Scotland has welcomed the announcement of an inquiry into the Department for Work and Pensions’ approach to carers, which will cover information and advice, income and benefits, employment and training, equality and recognition.

Carers learning celebrated in film premiere
22 February 2008 Carers Scotland in partnership with Learn Direct Scotland, Glasgow College of Nautical Studies, City & Guilds and Heirloom Media Ltd will premiere a short film featuring four unpaid carers who have stepped back into learning and undertaken the Learning for Living programme. Their stories are courageous, inspiring and highlight the challenges and rewards of learning by building on their experience and skills as carers.

Carers Scotland and Carers UK hail landmark case as millions of carers get protection at work
31 January 2008 A carer has won the initial stages of her case at the European Court of Justice which could give new rights to millions of carers.

Carers lose £11,000 a year in earnings
07 December 2007 New statistics, published to coincide with Carers Scotland’s Carers Rights Day, Friday 7 December 2007, show that the average loss in earnings last year by carers who had either to give up their job, reduce their hours or take a more junior position in order to care for sick, frail or disabled relatives or partners, was £11,291. Financial compensation through the Carer’s Allowance benefit – provided a carer is eligible by earning under £95 a week – is just £48.65 a week.

Carers Scotland and Carers UK spells out a new social contract for carers
21 November 2007 A ground-breaking new study released today (Wednesday 21 November 2007) by Carers Scotland and Carers UK sets out the design of a new social contract for care which would revolutionise the way care is delivered in the 21st century

Social care system is failing four million working age carers
10 October 2007 New research by Carers Scotland and Carers UK highlights the challenges facing health and social care services in the face of demographic change

Millions of carers anxiously await outcome of landmark employment case
09 October 2007 Carers UK, Carers Scotland and the millions of carers that it represents, are anxiously waiting for the outcome of the landmark employment case that is being heard by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg today (9.10.07), which could radically reform how carers are treated in the workplace.

Carers Scotland welcomes rise in earnings limit on main carer’s benefit
20 September 2007 Carers Scotland welcomed the UK Government’s announcement that the earnings limit on Carer’s Allowance is set to rise to £95 on 1 October 2007, after listening to the Carers Scotland's concerns that carers were losing out because of rises in the National Minimum Wage.