National carers strategy: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment

7. What evidence have you used to inform your assessment?

1. Estimated number of young carers (aged 4-17): 28,000.^[1]

This evidence has allowed actions in the Strategy to be targeted accordingly.

2. The Young Carer Package has been nationally available since June 2019, and so far 3,056 young carers have signed up (Dec 2022).^[2]

This figure which is reviewed monthly shows how many young carers are being supported through this Scottish Government-funded national initiative.

3. The data indicates that the gender gap is narrowest for young carers, with females accounting for 58% of young carers and males accounting for 42%.^[3]

As above, this allows actions and initiatives to be targeted accordingly.

Limitation: Analysis is based on carers who have engaged with support services and carers identified through the de-duplication process.

In addition, we are in regular discussions with stakeholders who represent young carers and can feed back their experiences of current support services and initiatives which is used to inform future policy. Engagement with the Young Carers Working Group and the Scottish Young Carers Services Alliance has also helped us address gaps in the existing data and gaps in support provision and delivery. For example, we know that young carers are more likely to report instances of isolation as they may be deprived of social activities and other opportunities their peers without caring responsibilities can enjoy. Alongside its more general focus on personalisation, the Strategy therefore includes actions to address challenges related to caring role and age. These include actions focused on young carers at a transitional stage of their life and carers of working age.