Skye & Lochalsh Young Carers History

2000
We set up a support group with 6 initial members. We developed our ground rules and plans for how the project would work as well as policies to make sure we had a say in how it would be run. We decided on the name of Skye & Lochalsh Young Carers Project and we got 3 year funding from BBC Children in Need.

2001
We got our first Project base in Portree, it's an office above the Bank of Scotland. We were very busy fundraising and spreading the word about what its like for us being young carers. We started getting training in things like stress management, First Aid and Moving and Handling. Our numbers have grown so much we've had to split into two groups! 

One of our members designed a logo for us, it represents how we're always rushing off somewhere and on a mission!

2002
We have regular respite outings, training courses and session challenges to help build our skills and confidence. Our Information Packs were launched during the Queen's visit and our Guidelines for Hospital Staff went out to every hospital in the Highlands.

We won the National Public Involvement in Health Award against 58 other projects. Two of us along with workers went down to London to recieve it (and the shopping and sight seeing were brilliant too!!).

2003 - 2004
The S&L Community Care Forum which manages the Project has become an independent charity. We moved from our office to Victoria Cottage which is a house set in beautiful gardens!  We have more part time workers and groups set up. Through our Big Lottery and LEADER+ funding our 'Heart Art' Project has helped us develop our ICT and art skills as well as our confidence!

2005
Some of us did extra First Aid training with the Red Cross and are now Red Cross volunteers. We've been attending conferences and meeting people from the Scottish Executive to help raise awareness.
Lots of local people and groups now help us with fundraising and in so many other ways and we've made Christmas cards to sell this year.

2006
Some of us appeared on TV this year with De-a-nis and the Children In Need appeal. We produced our Poetry Book as well as our 'Friendship' and 'Dealing with Blame' training programmes. We've started work on our 'Alcohol' training pack for service providers as well as this website which two of our members are very busy working on!

2007
Red Cross Humanitarian Award came to S&L Young Carers!  Congratulations to Robert, Nicola, Craig, and Ben for winning the Overall Group Award!

We now have 58 members and GREAT NEWS! The Big lottery has awarded us £267,866 over the next 5 years for our ‘Transition Mission’ Project. We plan to create and produce more training programmes and work with more services who can help support us.

2008
This year we've learned about the law and how it can affect us.  We've also been working with the Fire & Rescue Service to raise awareness and help improve home safety.
We've produced a Service Directory and helped make a caffeine information leaflet.

With family consent GP Practices now electronically flag some of our notes so that they know we're young carers. Two of us attended the Highland NHS Scottish Government Annual Review and met with Shona Robinson and her team.

2009
We won the Portree & District Rotary Youth Achievement Award for our Fire Safety work.
Ten of us went to the Scottish Young Carers Festival, it was a long journey but worth it - we even come home with the five-a-side football trophy!
We've worked with Teaching Support Staff to create Portree and Plockton High School Young Carer Policies and to finish the year we made a documentary with Iain Mitchell from Don Productions for Japanese TV!

2010
Our first book 'Angus Puff the Fire Dragon' was launched at our 10th Anniversary party in May!  The Fire Service plan to give copies to all primary schools in Highland.

Thanks to Kati and Hector from Eden Court we've produced a DVD and radio advert to help raise awareness.

The Scottish Young Carers Strategy has been launched and the Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers service has been highlighted as a good practice example for its partnership working with GP Practices, High Schools, Fire & Rescue and Police Services.

2011
We worked again with Iain Mitchell and created a short film called 'I'm Fine'.  We had our first ever film premier for invited guests!  The film along with its accompanying poetry booklet is going to be used to help train professionals.

Through sponsorship and support for the Great Wilderness Challenge we raised an incredible £27,500 this year!  Thank you to the GWC, all our friends, fantastic supporters and young carer champions who have helped us in so many different ways during the year.

We have recently been highlighted as an excellent example of several of the principals of citizen leadership on the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability Leadership Project online gallery.