Carers Parliament

The first annual Carers Parliament was held on 1 October 2012 at Holyrood.

Carers Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government and in partnership with the national carer organisations, organise an annual Carers Parliament for carers from all across Scotland.

The first Carers Parliament was held on 1 October 2012 and the most recent will be held on 4, 5 and 7 October 2021

In this section, you can download reports and watch video from earlier events.

Carers Parliament 2021

This year's Carers Parliament took place online over three days to discuss the national care service consultation and as well as work to develop a new Scottish Carer's Assistance. We held 17 workshops and a main event, including carer, young carers and Ministers as well as an excellent panel discussion.

Using what carers said on the day, as well as the many questions carers submitted in advance about the proposals, Carers Scotland has produced a response to this consultation which brings together these many views. We have also included reports from the workshops and all the questions submitted and discussed on chat to ensure that those reading the response have the full picture of all that carers said over the three days.

There was much consensus from carers as well as challenging questions for the Scottish Government and we hope the final response does justice to what carers said.

You can read the full response here.

You can watch the video of the main event on 7 October Part 1: speakers here and Part 2: panel discussion here

You can download the reports on discussions on work to develop a new Scottish Carer's Assistance here.

Carers Parliament 2020

The first ever virtual Carers Parliament took place over three days on the 16, 17 and 25 November, with workshops, a webinar with Professor Jason Leitch, a main event and a range of virtual information stalls and wellbeing sessions. This section will bring together films and feedback from these events.

Video

Main Carers Parliament event on 25 November - watch the video

Message to carers at the Carers Parliament from the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon - watch the video

Carers Campaign launch with campaign Ambassador and carer, Jane McCarry and carer, Jill - watch the video

Young Carer Spotlight - watch the video

Webinar with Professor Leitch - watch the video

Workshop presentations and feedback

Carers and Human Rights - open the PDF

Transitions - open the PDF

Self Directed Support and carers - open the PDF

Carers Parliament 2019

The 7th Carers Parliament was held on Wednesday 30th October 2019 at the Central Halls in Edinburgh. The 2019 Carers Parliament had a theme of the Diversity of Caring. We want to recognise and celebrate the diverse nature of caring in Scotland. Carers have been described as ordinary people doing extraordinary things but fundamentally carers are individuals with their own unique experiences, aspirations and diverse needs. These differences present both an opportunity and a challenge to those tasked with taking forward policy development and delivering support (statutory and third sector) and our Carers Parliament day will be our opportunity to explore what this means in practice.

Information from the Day

Wordcloud from the parent carer workshop We have produced a range of information from the day for those who attended and those who could not. This includes a summary report, workshop notes and films of the day. Click on the links below to view these

Films

Record of the day
Judith Robertson, Chair
Young carers film
Christina McKelvie MSP Minister for Older People and Equalities
Joe Fitzpatrick MSP Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing
Debate (this incorporates response from Joe Fitzpatrick MSP and Alison Evison, COSLA President)

Individual carer films: if one thing could change, what would it be?

Workshop and engagement zone notes

Future ideas for Carers Parliament

We asked carers to give us their ideas about the future format for the Carers Parliament. This document summarises these responses and will inform planning for 2020 and beyond. Thank you to everyone who took the time to contribute their views.

Carers Parliament 2018

Carers Parliament 2018 was held on Wednesday 24th October 2018 at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and will bring the voice of carers from across Scotland to the debate on the future of health and social care.

Carers and young carers from across Scotland came to take part and below are a selection of reports about the day.

We have also produced films from the day:

Record of the day
Opening of debate by Joe Fitzpatrick MSP, Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing
Social Security and Carers - Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security & Older People
Full debate

Carers also took the time to record their thoughts on what should the future look like for carers and young carers. Thank you to everyone who contributed

This document summarises the main issues from the debate and provides information on the relevant Scottish Government actions and signposting to sources of support.

Carers Parliament 2016

Carers Parliament was held on 2 November 2016 in Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

Delegates heard from a range of speakers including the Minister for Social Security, Jeane Freeman MSP and Minister for Public Health & Sport, Aileen Campbell MSP, Marja Tuomi, Chief Executive of the Central Association of Carers in Finland alongside carers and representatives from CoSLA. The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon sent a video address to welcome carers to the event and Senator Paul Routier, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Jersey came along to hear about support for carers in Scotland.

You can read the full report and watch videos of the day by clicking the file below.

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Carers Parliament

Carers Parliament 2021

Carers Parliament 2020

Carers Parliament 2019

Carers Parliament 2018

Carers Parliament 2016

Carers Parliament 2015

Carers Parliament 2014

Carers Parliament 2013

Carers Parliament 2012