Projects
At Edinburgh Young Carers, we recognise the importance of collaborating with other organisations, to share knowledge and provide new opportunities for our young carers. This page includes some information about our current collaborative projects.
Would your organisation like to work with Edinburgh Young Carers? Please email info@youngcarers.org.uk for further information.
CashBack for Communities is a unique Scottish Government programme which reinvests criminal assets recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and invests in projects delivering positive futures for our young people. With this support, Edinburgh Young Carers is able to provide an holistic service for children and young people caring for a parent affected by alcohol or substance use.
Young carers impacted by parental alcohol or substance use report more negative health effects than other young carers, are generally less happy and report more stress and sleep difficulties. Often, their home environment and multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can lead to negative coping strategies including their own alcohol or drug use, self-harm, suicide attempts, isolation, anger and anti-social behaviour. The majority of young people affected in this way live in the most deprived areas of Edinburgh and face challenges associated with poverty, including underdeveloped communication skills, low expectations of themselves and others and lower attainment and life aspirations.
Our collaboration with CashBack for Communities enables us to provide specialised, tailored support to these young carers to help them navigate their caring roles, grow in confidence through skills development and nurture positive mental health strategies to pave their way to brighter futures.
Each young carer has an individualised development plan, comprising some or all of:
- Mental Health Support including fortnightly respite groups, smaller groups/playdates, and one-one support/Counselling for young carers who have been identified as being especially vulnerable to poor mental health and/or risk-taking behaviour.
- Core Skills Development through activities supporting literacy, motor skills and environment awareness. The content is determined by the young people and may include equine therapy, outdoor skills, educational programmes, swimming and support with school transition.
- Respite activities, allowing young carers a break from caring responsibilities and an opportunity to share their experience with peers. This includes days out, camping trips and 2-5 night residential breaks during school holidays.
This project is delivered across Edinburgh City.
The reports below show how this collaboration has helped these young carers in its first two years:
EYC CashBack for Brighter Futures Impact Report (2024-2025) – MP4 (video) or view as PDF
EYC CashBack for Brighter Futures Impact Report (2023-2024) – MP4 (video) or view as PDF
Scottish Government CashBack for Communities: Impact Report 2023-24
To find out more about CashBack for Communities and the other organisations they collaborate with, click here: CashBack for Communities
What does CashBack deliver in your area? Find out here: cashbackforcommunities.org/what-does-cashback-deliver-in-your-area/
Children’s Rights
The rights and wellbeing of the young people we work with are paramount in everything we do. We respect, consider and promote children’s human rights in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
Our Children’s Rights & Wellbeing Impact Assessment is reviewed yearly and can be accessed here.
