Airdrie and Shotts SNP MSP Neil Gray has welcomed the introduction of a £4m funding package to help provide support to unpaid carers.
The move is in recognition of the role they play in looking after loved ones and added pressure many have faced during the pandemic.
The additional winter funding will allow organisations working with unpaid carers to expand the services they provide to all groups of adult and young carers.
That includes those looking after disabled children and young people and those caring for a friend or relative with dementia.
To help reach as wide a range of carers as possible, the funds will be shared between organisations who are already working with different groups of carers.
The funding will see £3m for local carer centres across Scotland to expand their vital support for adult and young carers, and £200,000 to expand the Young Carers Package delivered by Young Scot - this will help provide additional break opportunities, support and activities for young carers.
Further funding will see £377,000 to expand the Family Fund support with breaks for parents and families looking after disabled children and young people, and £590,000 to expand wellbeing support and services for unpaid carers looking after a family member with Dementia.
Mr Gray, who is also convener of Holyrood’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee, said: “This funding will go a long way to helping the heroes that are Scotland’s unpaid carers.
"They play a vital role in our society and without them, social services would be stretched to breaking point.
“Through the pandemic they went about their roles without much of the usual face-to-face support from third sector organisations and I hope that this announcement will mean that they receive all the support they need going forward.”
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