Funding boost for Skye young carers charity

A charity that supports young carers in the west Highlands has secured a grant of £70,000 to help with plans for a new permanent base for the service.

Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers helps about 70 youngsters at a rented cottage in Portree where they can get support and time out from their caring responsibilities.

But the space available does not fully meet the needs of the service.

The Scottish government funding for island projects will be used to draw up plans for a new building that will resemble a large family home.

Young people between the ages of five and 18 who use the service come once a week after school along with others of a similar age.

They get a meal, can spend time with friends and are taught useful life skills like cooking.

Gill Adams, chairwoman of the board of the charity's trustees, said the young people had a lot of responsibilities.

"They look after a parent, or a grandparent or a sibling for whatever reason whether it is illness, disability or sadly also there is sometimes drug and alcohol abuse," she said.

"These kids have to grow up extremely quickly and it's not the best environment to be learning and having fun."

Ms Adams said the young people felt they had "a life outside of their caring role" when they came to the cottage in Portree.

But she said they were "outgrowing" their current home.

She said the young carers had been clear they wanted something like a "welcoming house" rather than traditional types of centres used by some organisations.

"We have got a little kitchen at the moment and if we want to teach them catering skills or cooking a nutritious meal you are elbowing everybody out the way in the kitchen," she said.

"But this will have a huge dining kitchen that will be the centre of the home."

The Highland Council has previously supported Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers with community regeneration funding.

Skye councillor John Finlayson, who is chairman of Highland Council's education committee, said he was delighted the charity was going to benefit from this latest financial support.

He said it provided "essential additional support to young people who in many cases may have substantial caring duties".

Mr Finlayson added: "Many of them might otherwise have been shouldering enormous levels of responsibility unknown and in silence."