There are 2,540 unpaid carers in Orkney delivering support over a range of hours.

• 50+ hours a week: 527
• 35 to 49 hours a week: 182
• 20 to 34 hours a week: 206
• 1 to 19 hours a week: 1,624

This does not include paid care workers or those who are volunteering.- NHS Inform

Unpaid carers also come in a range of ages, but in Orkney most (1,065) are between the ages of 50 to 64. There are, however, 44 unpaid carers in Orkney who are under the age of 16. Females provide the bulk of unpaid care in Orkney, 1,056.

In Scotland as a whole the 2022 census recorded 627,700 people providing unpaid care, a 27.5% increase on the numbers at the previous census in 2011. The national figures follow the same patterns as those for Orkney. Most unpaid carers are aged 50 or over and 58.8% are female.

More than half of unpaid carers in Scotland (55.9%) spent 1 to 19 hours per week providing support. Another 24.3% spent 50 or more hours per week providing support. 

 The Carers Trust estimates that there are an estimated 800,000 unpaid carers in Scotland; this includes 30,000 young carers under the age of 18. The value of unpaid care provided by carers in Scotland is £12.8 billion per year.

In 2023 The Carers Trust carried out research into  the lived experiences of unpaid carers aged 65 and above across Scotland. The data from the research found that many older adult unpaid carers experience poor physical and mental health, feelings of loneliness and social isolation.

Additionally, many unpaid carers felt financially impacted due to their caring role, in particular those with underlying entitlement to Carers’ Allowance but do not receive it due to receiving a full State Pension.

Carers Trust also conducted a survey into young unpaid carers – that’s those under the age of 18.

“Over half (54%) of young carers and young adult carers said that the amount of time they spend caring has increased in the last year, and over a third (36%) now care for more people than they used to.”

Carer’s Allowance Supplement

Carer’s Allowance Supplement (CAS) is an extra payment to help carers in Scotland who get Carer’s Allowance. If you care for someone for 35 hours or more a week and haven’t applied for Carer’s Allowance then you can apply online. Carer’s Allowance Supplement is £231.30 and is paid in two payments a year. The payments are made in the same way you get Carer’s Allowance. You will get Carer’s Allowance Supplement automatically if you get Carer’s Allowance and live in Scotland. You must be getting Carer’s Allowance on the qualifying dates to get Carer’s Allowance Supplement.

Young Carer Grant

 Young Carer Grant is for those aged 16, 17 or 18 years old. It is a yearly payment of £383.75 for young carers in Scotland. You must also have been caring for 1, 2 or 3 people for an average of 16 hours a week for at least the last 3 months. If you care for more than one person, you can combine the hours of the people you care for to average 16 hours a week. If you care for someone for 35 hours or more a week you may be able to get Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance. 

Carer Support Payment is replacing Carer’s Allowance in Scotland and is available throughout the country from Monday 4th November 2024. Carer Support Payment is money to help you if you’re a carer. You can get paid £81.90 a week if you’re eligible.

You can apply for the Young Carer Grant and find out more information on the Scottish Government’s website.

You can also contact Social Security Scotland by web chat, phone or post. They are available 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

• Call: 0800 182 2222

Find more information about contacting Social Security Scotland.

Support from Young Scot’s free Young Carers Package

If you’re living in Scotland, aged 11 up to 18 and are caring for someone, you can apply for Young Scot’s Young Carers Package too. This is a collection of enhanced offers, from free cinema tickets and 30% off travel to up to 50% off at high street restaurants.

Apply for the Young Carers Package now.

More information and support

Find more information and support available on Young Scot’s Young Carers campaign page.

The Scottish Government has published the following information to support unpaid carers:

If you’re an unpaid carer, you can get:

• support from your local carer centre
• an Adult Carer Support Plan or Young Carer Statement
• financial support 
• short breaks from caring
• extra support if you’re a young carer
• support when your caring role ends

There’s no register of unpaid carers in Scotland. You do not need to be registered to get help and support. 

But to get certain types of help you’ll need to: 

• be eligible and apply for benefits and other financial support
• ask for an Adult Carer Support Plan or Young Carer Statement

Fiona Grahame