Covenant pledge to support county's young carers

We've become the latest organisation to sign a national pledge committing to help the county’s young carers reach their full potential.

The Young Carers Covenant was developed by young carers across the UK and outlines 10 key outcomes which they have said are vital to improving their lives. This includes being able to thrive in education and being able to access and succeed in employment and training opportunities.  While Scotland’s Carers Act already places a statutory duty on local authorities to support young carers, the Covenant represents a deeper, values-based commitment to truly hear and act upon the lived experiences of young carers.

“Signing the Covenant sends a message to young carers that they really matter to us,” said Marie Prior, Coordinator, Young Carers who signed the Covenant on our organisation’s behalf. “We’re not just doing this because legislation tells us to - we’re doing it because we’re listening and responding to what young carers are saying.”

Any organisation or individual with the power to make a difference - whether councils, schools or voluntary groups - is encouraged to sign the Covenant.

“It's both a public statement and a reflective tool for evaluating how services are helping young carers thrive," explained Marie. “It’s a powerful way for organisations to ask themselves: what are we actually doing for young carers? It puts the focus where it belongs - on the carers themselves - and makes clear our commitment to help them flourish.”

Marie added: “A very positive outcome from our work around the Covenant is that young carers registered with us will, for the first time, be guaranteed an interview for a council position if they meet the essential criteria for the post they are applying for. This is a really exciting development and offers real opportunities for our young carers entering the workplace.”

The signing took place on 11 June in the company of East Lothian’s Young Carers Advisory Group and Councillors Fiona Dugdale and Shamin Akhtar, East Lothian’s Cabinet Members for Education and Children’s and Family Services and Health and Social Care respectively. The group also began early discussions on shaping the Carers Strategy for East Lothian 2026–2029, offering feedback on three key questions to guide the strategy’s development. The Carers Strategy survey is open until 31 July.

Carers Strategy Survey

For more information about the Young Carers Covenant and how to get involved, visit: carers.org or contact Marie Prior at mprior1@eastlothian.gov.uk