Karen Adam MSP welcomes extra support for unpaid carers, drawing on her own lived experience

Karen Adam MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast has welcomed new investment to support unpaid carers, saying the funding will make a real difference to families locally who give so much of themselves every day.

Around 3,000 additional parent carers across Scotland, including families in Banffshire and Buchan Coast, will now be able to access a short break, thanks to an extra £1.1 million provided to Family Fund. The funding will support carers who previously applied but were unsuccessful due to high demand, taking the total number of Scottish Government supported short breaks to more than 8,500 in 2025–26.

Commenting, Karen Adam MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, said:

“This is very welcome news for unpaid carers in our communities, and it’s an issue that feels personal to me as a mum. When my children were young and needed additional support, we benefited from support like this, including help from Family Fund.

“Across Banffshire and Buchan Coast, parents and families are caring for children with serious and complex needs while juggling work, finances and everything else life throws at you. Too often, their own wellbeing comes last, until it’s gone.

“Unpaid carers give so much, often quietly and without recognition. Support like this isn’t a luxury, it’s a chance to step out of the everyday pressure for a while and spend valuable time together as a family. This funding will help more carers and families get the support they need.”

Background

Take a Break Scotland provides flexible cash grants to parent carers of disabled or seriously ill children and young people aged 0–17, helping improve health, wellbeing and quality of life. The scheme is delivered by Family Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government.

This £1.1 million investment brings total Take a Break Scotland funding to £3.3 million this year and forms part of the wider Short Breaks Fund, which received a £5 million boost, taking total investment to £13 million.

There are around 694,000 unpaid carers in Scotland, including an estimated 27,000 young carers under the age of 18.