Interim evaluation highlights positive impacts of Young Carer Grant
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 26th August 2021
The evaluation found that the Young Carer Grant appeared to be meeting its overall aims of improving quality of life.
The Scottish Government have published the outcome of an interim evaluation into the Young Carer Grant (this link will take you away from our website.) Launched in October 2019, the Young Carer Grant is a one-off payment of £308.15 (in 2021/22) for young people aged 16 to 18 with caring responsibilities, which can be applied for annually. The aim of the grant is to provide recognition of their caring role and to help improve quality of life by enabling them to access opportunities which are normal for their non-caring peers.
A full evaluation of the Young Carer Grant is scheduled for 2023/24, with this interim review having examined the impact over the first 18 months. Overall, the grant was viewed positively by recipients and stakeholders, and was felt to be meeting its stated aims. Some of the things young carers spent the money on included clothes, socialising and hobbies, as well as savings, for example for driving lessons. These align closely to the things teenagers as a whole would tend to spend their money on. In some cases, young carers were using the money to cover the costs of food or rent, though these were exceptional.
Most recipients responding to the evaluation said the grant had made a positive impact on their life in general. The evaluation recognises the limited total impact a single payment can have, and identified no direct impact on some of the negative aspects of being a young carer, such as lack of time to relax or socialise with friends, and feeling anxious about the person they were caring for. Nonetheless, the grant was felt to have given them more control over their life, and to have contributed at least a little to providing recognition for their role.
End of page.
You may also like:
Participate in a study into family or carer outcomes after critical illness (FOCUS), led by the University of Cambridge.
Continue readingLast call to nominate for the Frontline Awards 2026.
Continue readingRead our published response on the voting experiences of people who are Deaf, Deafblind, or who have Visual Impairments.
Continue readingComplete this consultation if you access optometry services, support people to access eye care services, or are an eye care professional.
Continue readingFirst FIFA tournament to have sign language interpretation broadcasts for all matches.
Continue readingThe annual survey by Carers UK helps to shape campaigns and policy work, based on the experiences of unpaid carers.
Continue readingThe Self Management Fund has awarded new grants to 23 organisations across Scotland
Continue readingTheresa Campbell, MSc Psychology student, is investigating the impact of deprivation following cancer treatment.
Continue readingLived experience participation in local decision making affected: "It's draining, I have a chronic condition, hence why I'm going to stop"
Continue readingThe Practice Learning Review Consultation will remain open until 23 July 2026
Continue readingRead our updated members handbook to discover the benefits of your ALLIANCE membership.
Continue readingThe MyCare app is available in the App Store and Play Store.
Continue readingMulti-year funding was at the centre of the Scottish Parliament debate on a Third Sector Partnership Agreement
Continue readingApply for this highly regarded leadership development offer from Leading to Change and PSD Scotland.
Continue readingThe Self Management Programme is changing to focus on the Fund, share learning, and support better health and wellbeing in Scotland.
Continue readingTogethers' new training and consultancy offers are now live.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE joins 54 signatories in calling for accessible news and equal access to information for all.
Continue readingRead the full response to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) Code of Practice
Continue readingA new app from the Scottish Association for Supported Employment (SUSE) for helping people stay well in work
Continue readingFree self management and wellbeing resource for everyone helping young people with their wellbeing.
Continue readingThe date for this year's DiGiTal Get Together has been announced
Continue readingWe have published our conference report from our annual conference Hope to Action as we look to the future and the work still to be done.
Continue readingNew guidance supports Audiology services to design and develop clinical peer review schemes to support quality assurance.
Continue readingRegister for this paid Advisory Panel opportunity
Continue readingTake a short survey to share your experiences
Continue reading