Latest news with #CarersWeek
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Free entry for unpaid carers at M&D's Scotland's Theme Park
M&D's Scotland's Theme Park in Motherwell is taking part in National Carers Week, which runs from June 9 to 15, by offering exclusive discounts to unpaid carers on June 14 and 15. More than six million people across the UK are estimated to provide unpaid care for family and friends - a role that can be both rewarding and incredibly challenging. In recognition of their vital work, M&D's will will receive free entry with a paying guest on a range of attractions, including wristband packages, Amazonia, Devil's Island Adventure Golf, Cosmic Bowl, and Walk the Plank. Read more: Meet the 82-year-old who discovered new purpose after becoming a widower All unpaid carers who identify themselves as such will receive free entry with a paying guest on a range of attractions, including wristband packages, Amazonia, Devil's Island Adventure Golf, Cosmic Bowl, and Walk the Plank. Jensen Taylor Connelly, director at M&D's, said: "We have many carers visit us throughout the year on days out and where possible we always support them as the work they do is so valuable. "Raising awareness during Carers Week seems only appropriate as it's an ongoing challenge for many families and hopefully this initiative will do just that." More information about the park is available on the Scotland's Theme Park website.
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
It's time to treat BME unpaid carers fairly
This week, the Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project (MECOPP) is publishing Where Are We Now? the first major research in 30 years into the lives of unpaid carers from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in Scotland. The report comes just ahead of Carers Week, whose theme this year, Caring about Equality, couldn't be more timely. Because right now, equality is exactly what's missing. Unpaid carers are the invisible network holding Scotland's communities and economy together. But while all unpaid carers deserve greater reward and recognition, this new research shows that BME carers are being especially failed, pushed into poverty, struggling in silence, and facing major barriers to support that works for them. The most recent data shows the number of BME unpaid carers has more than doubled in a decade, with over 35,000 people now looking after someone. Yet nearly seven in 10 carers we spoke to said their caring role was pushing them into financial hardship. Some are skipping meals or switching off the heating just to get by. Around half live on less than £20,000 a year. The toll on carer's own health is just as serious. Half live with pain or exhaustion. Four in ten face worsening mental health. Three-quarters say they don't have a single moment to care for themselves. As one Pakistani carer told us: 'Caring is 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. The only respite I get is when my son goes to bed. Then I start the laundry.' In 2006, the Scottish Government said it recognised the challenges facing BME unpaid carers. Yet here we are, nearly two decades later, and too little has changed. Carers are still struggling to access support that speaks their language, meets their cultural needs, or even recognises them in the first place. Our new research, carried out by Heriot-Watt University and supported by Oxfam Scotland, sets out not just what's going wrong, but what needs to be done. We need respite breaks that actually work for BME carers. A Carer Support Payment that reaches and supports those who need it most. Annual health checks and proper mental health support. And services designed with, not just for, the communities they're meant to serve. These changes aren't optional extras: they're the bare minimum. BME carers are simply asking to be seen, heard and supported. They're asking for what every unpaid carer deserves: fairness. BME unpaid carers are doing their bit, more than their bit. It's time politicians did theirs. Caring shouldn't come at the cost of your health, your income or your identity. The Scottish Government have long known the problems. It's time to fix them. Margaret Chiwanza is CEO of the Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project (MECOPP) Agenda is a column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Unpaid carers to get exclusive discounts from M&D's to mark National Carers Week
Carers Week runs June 9 to 15. It is estimated that the UK has more than six million unpaid family and friend carers. M&D's Scotland's Theme Park is celebrating National Carers Week by offering exclusive discounts to unpaid carers in recognition of the huge amount work that they do. Carers Week runs June 9 to 15. It is estimated that the UK has more than six million unpaid family and friend carers. On the weekend of June 14 and 15 carers who visit Scotland's Theme Park and identify themselves as an unpaid carer or young carer will receive exclusive discounts including Buy one wristband/wristband package and the Carer goes free Buy one entry to Amazonia and the Carer goes free Buy one entry to Devil's Island Adventure Golf and the Carer goes free Buy one game of bowling and the Carer goes free Buy one Walk the Plank and the Carer go free Download the Lanarkshire Live app today M&D's director Jensen Taylor Connelly said: 'We have many carers visit us throughout the year on days out and where possible we always support them as the work they do is so valuable. 'Raising awareness during Carers Week seems only appropriate as it's an ongoing challenge for many families and hopefully this initiative will do just that.' Located next to Strathclyde Country Park, M&D's is one of Scotland's top visitor attractions. The Theme Park features thrill rides and family rides, as well as a host of activities, for all age groups. Special features include Amazonia, a temperature controlled tropical hot house of exotic plants and animals, Devil's Island Adventure Golf, Cosmic Bowl, a ten-pin bowling alley, and Krazy Congo Soft Play.
STV News
4 days ago
- General
- STV News
New report a ‘wake-up call' for ministers over struggles faced by BME carers
The Scottish Government has been told 'the time for excuses is over' as a new study showed black and minority ethnic (BME) unpaid carers still face the same kind of difficulties they did almost two decades ago. A new report said evidence gathered by the Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project (MECOPP) and others highlighted how BME carers 'continue to face disproportionate barriers to accessing support'. Meanwhile, a survey included in the report revealed that two-thirds (67%) of unpaid BME carers said their caring role caused them financial difficulties, causing 52% to cut back spending on food and household utility bills. The report said that Carer's Allowance and other benefits 'are often insufficient or difficult to access, adding stress'. Meanwhile, 70% of 173 unpaid BME carers surveyed said they felt lonely 'sometimes or always' – with the report adding that 'cultural stigma or lack of understanding about caregiving and disability in some communities can prevent carers from seeking support or even discussing their struggles'. Almost three quarters of those surveyed (74%) said they did not have time to look after themselves properly, with 50% reporting physical health issues such as fatigue or pain, and 40% saying they suffered from mental health issues such as stress or depression. The research comes almost two decades on from a 2006 Scottish Government report on unpaid care, which 'explicitly acknowledged the barriers faced by black and minority ethnic carers in accessing and using care services'. But the Where Are We Now? study, published by MECOPP and Heriot-Watt University with the support of Oxfam Scotland, said little had changed. The report, published ahead of Carers Week next week, said: 'It has now been nearly two decades since that report, yet many of the challenges it identified remain largely unaddressed, highlighting a persistent gap in policy attention and structural change for BME carers in Scotland.' It added that BME carers 'face unique difficulties in accessing support', adding that a cultural heritage where 'caregiving is viewed as a natural family duty' can cause people to delay seeking help from outside sources. This is part of the 'disproportionate barriers to accessing support' BME carers can face, with these also including language issues, a stigma around accessing formal care, and low levels of awareness about rights and entitlements. Speaking as the research was published, MECOPP chief executive Margaret Chiwanza said: 'This report is a wake-up call that can't be ignored. 'For far too long, BME unpaid carers have been overlooked – unseen, unheard, and unsupported. 'We heard from people battling poverty, burnout and breakdowns, worn out and worn down by a system that keeps failing them.' She continued: 'The Scottish Government has known about these problems for nearly 20 years ago but little has changed. 'The same barriers are still there – services that don't understand different cultures, information people can't access and policies that haven't delivered. 'It's not enough. BME carers deserve to be seen, heard and properly supported, and not face more decades of delay. This is about fairness, and the time for excuses is over.' A 39-year-old Pakistani carer spoke out about her experiences, saying: 'I have never had any respite. Caring is 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. 'The only respite I get is when my son goes to bed. Then I start on the laundry and preparing his care needs for the next day.' Jamie Livingstone, the head of Oxfam Scotland, said: 'Unpaid carers are caring day in, day out, behind closed doors and often without the support they desperately need and these challenges are particularly acute for those from black and minority ethnic communities. 'Many already face deep-rooted poverty and inequality, and unpaid caring is simply pushing them beyond breaking point. 'They're exhausted, isolated and being failed by a system that should be there to help. Politicians must stop paying lip service to inclusion and start delivering the real change BME unpaid carers in Scotland have already waited far too long for.' Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'We work closely with the charity MECOPP and are already acting to address issues raised in their report. 'We are also working with them alongside other carers groups as we look to legislate for a right to breaks from caring, for carers from all backgrounds. 'In the meantime, we have increased our voluntary sector Short Breaks Fund to £13m, which includes funding for several short breaks projects which aim to support BME carers.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
