Shared Care Scotland

05/06/2026

On Thursday 18th June 2-3pm Shared Lives Plus Community is hosting a free zoom webinar to “Shout about Shared Lives.”

Shared Lives is a way of providing care and support that begins with relationships, not services, enabling people to live gloriously ordinary lives and be part of their communities — whatever their support needs.

Find out more:
https://sharedlivesplus.org.uk/our-events/shared-lives-week-2026/

03/06/2026

💻Cultural Challenges; Caring and Supporting Unpaid Carers

We are excited to celebrate next week.

Wednesday's theme is 'work'. Carers Scotland are hosting an event next Wednesday 10 June, 10am-12pm in partnership with North Lanarkshire Carers Together exploring cultural challenges in caring, inclusive workplaces, and support for unpaid carers in Scotland.

Find out more:
https://ow.ly/3E7v50Z75YX

01/06/2026

Today marks the beginning of Pride Month, a time of celebration and solidarity for the LGBTQIA+ community 🏳️‍🌈.

Many within the LGBTQIA+ community will also be providing unpaid care to a family member, friend or neighbour, which we know can have a significant impact on health and wellbeing, finances, employment and relationships.

In addition to this, and the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ people, recent research by Inclusion Scotland shows that people who identify as LGBTQIA+ experience additional barriers when accessing health and social care support. This includes inaccessible communication, inflexible systems and processes, and feeling dismissed or disbelieved.

As the Right to a Break progresses, it is vital that all unpaid carers and those they care for are listened to and can access the right support for them at the right time. All carers across Scotland must be able to access breaks to support good physical and mental wellbeing, social opportunities, and a life alongside caring.

Find out more about the Right to a Break here:https://ow.ly/5Nw250Z69to

29/05/2026

BBC Caring Matters week

On yesterday's BBC Morning Live show on BBC One, Dr Kasim Ahmed was welcomed to discuss the ‘internal symptoms’ that could signal carers need a break.

Across Scotland, an estimated 800,000 people provide essential support to partners, family, friends and neighbours, who require help due to illness or long-term health condition, disability, frailty, or substance misuse. This can be to the detriment of their own physical, mental and emotional health if they aren’t taking enough breaks.

The doctor warned many carers are reluctant to take a break or recognise that they need one because of the guilt they feel leaving the person they care for behind.

That's why we are passionate about short breaks. 57% of respondents of our Short Breaks and respite care survey reported that they 'rarely or never' manage to take a holiday or extended break:
https://ow.ly/msGo50Z5zkG

However, when we talk to carers who have taken a break, their experience is positive. One carer recently shared with us:
"I would highly recommend this kind of break to other unpaid carers. It has helped me feel recharged, more balanced and better equipped to continue caring for my father."

Fatigued carers may become more withdrawn, depressed and anxious with heightening feelings of guilt around doing things they enjoy, such as spending time with friends or doing their own hobbies. It can manifest in physical symptoms including:
💤Changes in sleep pattern
🍽️Changes in appetite
😩 Physical strain or injuries especially if the care you provide involves manually moving a person
🧑‍⚕️Body aches and chronic pain

If you'd like to watch the segment, click below and slide the timer to 21 minutes 40 seconds:
https://ow.ly/tflJ50Z5zkH

Rav and Michelle discuss cashback card deals with Laura Pomfret, financial support for older carers with Dr Kas, and how to avoid being overcharged at the garage with Harry Kind.

28/05/2026

Today's story is from Jasper, who, like many unpaid carers we've spoken to during BBC Caring Matters week, wasn't sure how to go about booking a micro break.

Jasper is a full-time unpaid carer for both of his parents, each of whom has significant and complex health needs. Often awake during the night, Jasper provides care when it’s needed most. Caring can be relentless. There are no breaks, no days off, and rarely even a few minutes to himself.

During a weekly call with his local carers' centre, he expressed an interest in Tai Chi. He was encouraged to use his Time to Live microgrant for a weekend residential Tai Chi course, set in a peaceful, natural environment. It gave Jasper space to breathe, connect, and focus on himself.

“This break gave me the opportunity to recharge my batteries, socialise, and learn. Practicing Tai Chi is something I can now use every day to help manage stress and stay physically and mentally healthy.”

To get the ball rolling with your micro break, please get in touch with your local carer centre.

https://www.sharedcarescotland.org.uk/short-breaks-stories/jasper-s-story-stillness-within-the-storm/

27/05/2026

BBC Caring Matters Week

Have you seen Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together? It's available on the iPlayer, and on BBC over the next week. It follows Natalie's journey to train as a carer, inspired by time spent looking after her dad.

In the first few episodes:
👉Natalie spoke with unpaid carers looking after family members of all ages and with a variety of conditions.
👉It's showed the complexity of unpaid care, with some carers caring for more than one person or condition. The programme also showed how quickly caring situations can change and the impact this can have on families.
👉It's looked at the challenges of caring for children and the support families need.

Unpaid care has an impact on carers' ability to have time to themselves - and that's why we are so passionate about the Right to a Break. It is vital that unpaid carers are supported to access breaks that are right for them, at the right time. In our recent Respitality impact report, an unpaid carer told us:
“This is something I would never get the chance to do, it’s amazing...I genuinely think this has been one of my best days out!”

👉Find out more about our work to improve carers' access and experience of short breaks click: https://ow.ly/lnhT50Z4EWG
BBC News

26/05/2026

✔️Right to a Break: Our key themes

During our discussions our team identified key themes from unpaid carers and supporting organisations. These are central to our response:

-Closing the implementation gap - Making sure the right works properly in practice, not just on paper.
-What makes a break meaningful - Ensuring breaks for carers are person-centered and give carers choice and control in how they are delivered.
-The reality on the ground - Highlighting the day-to-day challenges, including staff shortages, delays, and uneven access.
-Clarity and confidence - Making it clear what carers are entitled to so everyone knows what to expect.
-Fair access across Scotland - Making sure people have a more consistent experience, no matter where they live.
-Building a stronger picture - Getting a clearer, more reliable understanding of what’s available, what’s missing, and where improvements are needed.

🙋‍♂️Do you agree? We'd love to know your thoughts....

https://ow.ly/ixtN50Z3aoU

26/05/2026

In last night's episode of Eastenders, Will - a young carer for his sister and now, his mum - missed out on a gig with a friend due to his caring responsibilities.

Despite the need for breaks, many carers are unable to take this time for themselves. In our 2024 survey, a third of carers told us that they 'rarely' or 'never' get a break from caring of more than two hours. This means that watching a movie or, like Will, attending a concert is out of reach for many unpaid carers. To live a life alongside caring, maintain good health and wellbeing, and stay connected with others, breaks from caring are vital.

➡️ Find out more about our work to improve carers' access and experience of short breaks: https://ow.ly/bxWC50Z48M2

25/05/2026

👏Thank you

The Scottish Government has recently been consulting on the implementation of the Right to a Break and last week we submitted our response.

We wanted to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in our events and polls. Our response was shaped by your views and experiences, giving us the opportunity to amplify your voices at a national level, helping influence how a future Right to a Break is designed.

To read our response in full, click here:
https://www.sharedcarescotland.org.uk/policy-practice-development/right-to-a-break/

25/05/2026

BBC Caring Matters Week

, is a week long spotlight on caring across the BBC, bringing together programming to reflect the realities of caring in the UK today, with a significant focus on unpaid care.

Maybe you're an Eastenders fan or you love a singalong with Songs of Praise, perhaps you're an avid listener and love The Archers or a BBC radio phone in. There's something on BBC this week for you.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/bbc-caring-matters-week