Information sheets for Aberdeenshire young carers and staff include local and national support, health and wellbeing information and Aberdeenshire Schools Young Carer Charter for Action and Toolkit. These can be found at:

• Support for Aberdeenshire Young Carers - Information Sheet

• Aberdeenshire Young Carer Information for Schools

Aberdeenshire Carer Support Service -VSA

VSA offer information, advice and support to Aberdeenshire adult carers and young carers. VSA can help a young carer to complete a Young Carer Statement, which looks at their caring role and support which may be available.

Schools can refer a young carer to VSA or the young carer may choose to self-refer using the online referral form.  For more information visit www.vsa.org.uk/our-services/aberdeenshire-carers or email carers.shire@vsa.org.uk or Tel 01224727670.

Aberdeenshire Young Carer Health and Wellbeing Grant

Young carers in Aberdeenshire can apply for a Health and Wellbeing Grant to take time out from their caring role and enjoy activities, hobbies or spend time with friends. Young carers can decide what to buy with the grant, as long as it helps to look after their health and wellbeing. The grant is a one-off payment of up to £300 that does not need to be paid back. To apply for the grant, contact VSA as above to ask for help to complete a Young Carer Statement. This will determine if a young carer can apply for the grant or would benefit from anindividual budget for ongoing support.

Live Life Aberdeenshire (LLA) – Free Membership for Young Carers

Young carers can ask their teacher, VSA Carer Advisor, Carer Practitioner or Social Work Practitioner to make a referral for a free membership on their behalf. Membership includes free access to LLA facilities including sports centres, swimming pools, aquarium, ski and swimming lessons, holiday programmes, and other directly run LLA activities.

Young Scot - Young Carers Package & Young Carer Transition Voucher

Young carers aged 11 to18 can access a Young Scot Young Carers Package of rewards, prizes and opportunities which are updated regularly. Staff working with young carers can use the Staff Sign Up Form - Young Carers Package for young carers aged 12 and over who have existing Young Scot Membership, to add the Young Carers Package to their account. For young carers aged 11 use this Application Form.Young carers aged 18 can get extra support as they transition into young adulthood with the Young Carer Transition Voucher, a £100 gift voucher which can be used in various retailers.

Young Carer Grant

Young carers in Scotland aged 16 to 19 may be eligible for an annual payment of £390. The young carer must provide care for one or more people for an average of 16 hours or more per week and the person or people being cared for must receive a qualifying benefit. Further information including how to apply can be found at Young Carer Grant - mygov.scot

Young Carer Support Weblinks

• Aberdeenshire Carers - VSA

• Support for young carers - Aberdeenshire Council

• Aberdeenshire GIRFEC - Young Carers

• Young Scot Young Carers

For any queries please email carersupport@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Aberdeenshire Council are currently working on our 2026-29 Children and Young People’s Services Plan, which will set out how services across Aberdeenshire will continue to work together to improve wellbeing outcomes for children, young people and families.

Watch this video created by children and young people in Aberdeenshire that describes what our current Plan is all about - video

Your thoughts and experiences as a parent are really important to make sure this plan reflects the needs and experiences of our children, young people and families.  Share your views by:

• Completing this short survey: https://forms.office.com/e/YgcjrHndqe

• Joining an online focus group discussion, register for only one focus group discussion using the links below:

Wednesday 12th November 4.30-5.15pm

            Wednesday 12th November 6-6.45pm

Please feel free to share this with other parents and carers you know.  Thank you for your support.

All children/young people in Scotland are entitled to an annual free eye examination by a qualified Optometrist (Optician).  These examinations are really important for checking the health of your child/young person’s eyes and for making sure that children/young people get any help they may need to make the most of their vision.

Sometimes children/young people do not notice that one eye cannot see as well as the other and an eye examination can check to see if your child/young person has any squints or ‘lazy eyes’ or if they need glasses. Vision can change over time, so it is important to have checks regularly to see if there has been any change.

The Optician will give a prescription for glasses for your child/young person if they need it. There is no obligation to buy glasses from the same Optician. Your child/young person is entitled to an NHS optical voucher to help cover the cost of glasses. If the glasses you choose costs more than the voucher, you will have to pay the difference. The Optician will explain this in more detail.

We would encourage all parents to take their child/young person to any high street Optician for regular eye examinations, whether or not they think they may need glasses.

You may find the link below useful.

Eye tests for children - NHS