Funding for Scottish Carers

An Edinburgh based Charity has received funding thanks to our Community Champions scheme.

Our East Scotland region selected Care for Carers to receive £1,000 through the Community Champions scheme, which supports local projects and groups in the area where the region is building.

Laura Still, sales and marketing director of Persimmon Homes East Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Care for Carers with funding from the Community Champions scheme.”

The charity helps carers manage their caring responsibilities and provides educational activities. These varied sessions including yoga, art and cooking and aim to support carers to improve their mental health and maintain their sense of identity.

Ruth MacLennan, spokesperson for Care for Carers, said: “64% of carers have been unable to take a break in the last six months and more than half have said that their physical and mental health has worsened.”

“The £1,000 will provide eight free boxing and mindfulness online sessions for sixteen carers. Our sessions will help carers to improve their physical and mental health and the small size of the group means that they can socialise easily and feel part of the community.”

Ruth added: “It is vital to support these carers and offer these sessions to help reduce the stress they experience from their responsibilities.”

The Community Champions programme sees each Persimmon regional office make two donations of up to £1,000 every month. Groups working with the under-18s can also apply to the Building Futures scheme, which is set to give away more than £1 million.

Details of both funding initiatives and online application forms can be found at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.

There are new build homes developments throughout East Scotland region including Barony Park in The Borders, Kings Cove and The Willows in Edinburgh and Kings Meadow in Gorebridge.