Supporting unpaid carers across the Scottish Borders, to thrive in their caring roles and beyond.

View the annual review for 2018/19.

View the annual review for 2019/20.

A countrywide campaign for carers – Carers’ Wellbeing Campaign –  was launched in partnership with NHS Inform and the Scottish Government.

View the annual review for 2020/21

A website by a group of legal professionals was launched to help parent carers to understand and navigate their way through the guardianship process.

View the annual review for 2021/22

View the annual review for 2022/23.

Watch the video of our event in Summer 2023 and hear from local carers about how the Carers Centre has made a difference to their lives here

On June 11th, we held our Carers Week event – ‘Putting Carers on the Map’ at the Kingsknowes Hotel in Galashiels. See our video here

Please see the report of our Carers Conference – The Way Forward.

Unpaid carers will not be called to receive the vaccine this Winter. Read more.

Our 2023/2024 Annual Review is available now. Please see the previous Annual Reviews here.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall’s announcement of a review of Carer’s Allowance overpayments.

Today the Chancellor announced that the earnings threshold for Carer’s Allowance will increase by £45 per week from April 2025. With Coalition of Carers In Scotland, we will be urging the Scottish Government to replicate this within Scotland’s Carer Support Payment ( which replaces Carers Allowance in Scotland) to ensure that carers in Scotland do not miss out.

A new website for the Borders Carers Centre!

What is Carer Support Payment?In Scotland, Carer Support Payment has replaced Carer’s Allowance from the Department for Workand Pensions (DWP). Carer Support Payment is money for people who look after someone who isdisabled or who has a long-term health condition.Who can apply?To be eligible, a carer must be 16 or over provide 35 hours or more of unpaid care a week to someone of any age who is getting certain disability benefits earn £151 per week or less on average after some deductions live in an area where the benefit is available

Along with the other National Carer Organisations in Scotland The Coalition have put together a statement expressing disappointment at the delay. We are urging all parties in the Scottish Parliament to work together on a solution that puts disabled people and unpaid carers at the heart of any future reform of social care. To read our statement in full: https://www.carersnet.org/national-carer-organisations…/

The Family Fund provide a wide range of grants to families living in Scotland raising a disabled, or seriously ill, child or young person on a low income. Their Scotland grant programme could help eligible families with essential grant items including kitchen appliances, bedding and furniture, computers and tablets, family breaks, sensory toys or outdoor play equipment. Apply here

This week, the Scottish Government presented their draft budget for 2025/26 to the Scottish Parliament. We welcome the announcement that the Scottish Government are committed to matching the UK Government by raising the earnings threshold for Carer Support Payment and Carer’s Allowance to £196, which means carers can earn an extra £45 a week whilst receiving these benefits. If these proposals in the draft Scottish Budget are accepted by the Scottish Parliament then the changes to the earnings threshold will come into effect from April 2025.

Local carers have enjoyed getting together to share lunch and their experiences of 2024 at a series of Christmas lunches across the region. Huge thanks our funders for making local carers Christmas lunch possible. When asked what this meant to them, carers said: “It means an awful lot. To be in a relaxed, undemanding place. Being normal with fellow carers for a couple of hours and to be able to enjoy a Christmas treat.” “It means the world to me to be able to celebrate Christmas with other carers.  I can be myself and feel fully understood and supported by other carers.  It’s an invaluable experience.”

Strategic Plan for unpaid carers sets out new vision for living well in the Scottish Borders | Scottish Borders Council The Health and Social Care Partnership’s strategic plan for unpaid carers, as approved by the Integration Joint Board earlier in the year, has now been published. Supporting unpaid carers by getting services right for the cared for person is a strategic objective identified in the Partnership’s Strategic Framework 2023-2026. Living Well in the Scottish Borders – A Plan for Adult Unpaid Carers 2024-28 (Living Well) sets out a clear vision and approach on how the Partnership aims to meet this objective over the next four years by, for example, focusing on carer identification and recognition and the provision of information, advice and communication for carers. Living Well was created in partnership with the Borders Carers Centre and Unpaid Carers in the Scottish Borders and was informed by the Carers Needs Assessment, carried…

Last week, the Minister for Social Care – Maree Todd outlined the next steps for the National Care Service Bill to the Scottish Parliament. In summary, the plan to introduce a National Care Board and Local Care Boards will no longer go ahead. Instead, the Scottish Government will introduce a new non-statutory advisory board comprising of people with lived experience of accessing care, social care workers, care providers, trade unions, the NHS and local government. This new advisory board will provide guidance on social care improvement in Scotland, but we don’t have any further details about the specific remit of the group or how the board members will be appointed. Other provisions such as the Right to Breaks for Carers and Anne’s Law will still be included in the amended National Care Service Bill. Full statement here

This year the theme is ‘Caring About Equality’ highlighting the inequalities faced by unpaid carers, including a greater risk of poverty, social isolation, poor mental and physical health. Far too often, carers of all-ages miss out on opportunities in their education, careers, or personal lives, just because of their caring role. Get involved in Carers Week 2025, and together let’s work towards an equal society, where carers are truly valued, recognised and supported. Carers week takes place from 9th to 15th June

Yesterday, the UK Government announced reforms to health and disability benefits. This included some significant changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP). Many of the proposed changes to PIP are not due to take effect until after April 2026, by which time it’s expected that everyone on PIP in Scotland will have transferred to Adult Disability Payment (ADP). Scottish Government have stated that they will not be considering similar reforms to the ADP in Scotland. Although the reforms to PIP may not affect disabled people in Scotland directly, there are still concerns that if the UK Government cuts spending on PIP then the amount of funding provided to the Scottish Government through the block grant adjustment (BGA) falls by a similar proportion. It is not clear yet how the Scottish Government will address any shortfall in the social security budget for next year. To find out more about how the proposed…

Charity Carers Scotland has welcomed a rise to the earnings limit which will see more unpaid carers eligible to receive Carer Support Payment. From the 7th of April, unpaid carers who provide at least 35 hours of care each week will be able to earn up to £2,340 more per year in paid employment and remain eligible for the payment. Carers Scotland says the increase – the largest in 40 years – will provide extra financial security to unpaid carers living on a low income, who will now be able to work the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage. Full details here Carer support payment extended

The Scottish Government has confirmed an increase to the Child Winter Heating Payment, a one-off financial support aimed at helping disabled children and young people cope with seasonal energy costs. The payment will rise to £255.80 for the 2025/26 winter period, reflecting a 1.7% uplift from the previous rate. During the previous winter season, 37,000 disabled children and young people in Scotland received £235.70 as part of the Child Winter Heating Payment. This year’s payment reflects a 1.7% increase, equivalent to £20.10, bringing the total to £255.80 per eligible person. Full details here Scotland’s Child Winter Heating Payment Rises to £255.80 for 2025/26

Information, support and advice for carers on household income and reducing energy bills. Carer Money Matters | Financial support for carers

We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have been awarded Carers Trust Scotland Excellence for Carers award – The organisational standard for best practice in delivering services, information and advice to unpaid carers. The award follows a rigorous assessment of our services and is proof that local carers, our partners, stakeholders and commissioners/funders can be confident they are partnering with a dedicated service that proves best practice and sustainability is embedded in our culture and practice.

Yesterday, the Scottish Parliament passed the Care Reform Bill, and for the first time, unpaid carers in Scotland will have a legal right to breaks from caring. Along with the other national carer organisations, we have been campaigning for a right to breaks from caring for a number of years. The passing of the Bill yesterday is a huge step forward for Scotland’s 800,000 unpaid carers – many of whom are running on empty, juggling impossible demands with little or no support. The introduction of this new right has the potential to be truly life-changing. But we know that rights only matter if they can be realised. Turning this commitment into something carers can actually access will take time, funding, and serious action, especially around investment in suitable replacement care. We’ll be working closely with the Scottish Government and partners to make sure this right isn’t just on paper, but…

Our 2023/2024 Annual Review is available now Please see the previous Annual Reviews here