Rural and Island Carers
Rural and Island Carers Project
Carers in rural and island communities can often face additional challenges when accessing support for themselves and those they care for.
Our Rural and Island Carers Project aims to bridge this gap and to ensure that carers in rural and island communities have their voices heard at local and national level.
We provide carers in rural and island communities with information, advice and support, as well as helping them to become more involved in local and national policy decisions about carer support.
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, we have been able to recruit a Rural and Islands Engagement Worker – Jaynie Mitchell, who has been working with carers and carer organisations in rural and island communities across Scotland.
Key Achievements
Support Across 16 Rural & Island Communities
To date our Rural and Island Carer’s Engagement Worker has worked directly with 16 carer centres, including every main island community in Scotland, offering support, training, and advocacy.
Growing the Rural & Island Carers Collective
The Collective is an online group for carers in rural and island communities to meet. Members meet regularly via Zoom and also keep in touch via a closed Facebook Group. The group also meet up annually in person. The group now includes carers from every island community. It has reduced isolation, fostered peer support, and contributed to national policy work including the National Care Service and the Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill. If you would like to join the Rural and Island Carers Collective, please contact: Jaynie@carersnet.org
Active National Representation
Our Engagement worker serves on national working groups, including the Self-Directed Support (SDS) Implementation Group, ensuring rural carers’ needs are considered in decision-making.
Empowering Through Training
Our “Recognition to Rights” training supported carers in Lanarkshire to engage in local planning, contribute to strategy updates, and deliver awareness training. Some of the participants from the course now serve on local boards and strategic planning groups.
Carers’ Rights in Action
We’ve delivered sessions across Scotland, from Shetland to Dumfries and Galloway, educating carers on their rights and building their capacity to self-advocate.
Strong Community Connections
Over 30 rural and island carer workers are now part of a regular peer learning network, ensuring ongoing support and shared innovation across communities.
The Impact
Carers tell us that they feel more connected, knowledgeable, and confident as a result of having attended the training or peer support groups. Many have transformed from isolated individuals to empowered advocates shaping services for themselves and others.
