Respite Support for Unpaid Carers

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:32 pm on 9 June 2021.

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Photo of Julie Morgan Julie Morgan Labour 2:32, 9 June 2021

I thank you for that, again, very important question, because the needs of young carers are absolutely a high priority in the Government's planning, and we know what an enormous amount they do to care for their loved ones. On the £3 million, £1.75 million has already been given to the local authorities to support the existing respite schemes that they do provide already. The other £1.25 million, there is a research project that is looking at the best way of providing short breaks, and looking at what you have to do in order to qualify for those short breaks. For example, do you need to have had a carer's assessment? I think it may be not necessary to have had a carer's assessment. So, we're trying to make respite more flexible and easier for carers, including young carers, to access. So, these respite projects that we're putting forward are going to be available for young carers and carers of all ages, and we're particularly anxious that young carers should benefit from them. So, thank you again for that very important question.