‘I hope that we can work together to improve the position of carers in Scotland, who play a significant and often underappreciated role in health terms. We want to make rapid, significant and sustainable improvements in support for carers, including in respite care. I hope that there will be a cross-party consensus on that.’ (Nicola Sturgeon, June 2007)

Carers Scotland and the national carer organisations have produced "The 2007 Spending Review: how to make it work for carers" to provide carers and carers organisations with information and advice to help influence the provision of carer support services in their local areas.  As explained in the guide, the relationship between the SNP-led Scottish Government and local authorities is changing, creating new challenges and opportunities for all of us enagaged in the campaign for better services for carers.  Understanding and adapting to these changes will be critical if we are to be successful.

Alongside the Guide, we have produced a sample letter for carers and carer organisations to send to decision makers and elected representatives in local councils and details of the number of carers in each local authority area in Scotland.

Read the full Scottish Budget and Spending Review here.

Read details of the new Concordat between the Scottish Government and local authorities here.