The Young Scot website has lots of information and advice for young carers including stories from other young carers and loads of tips and information on caring for someone.

It also tells young carers how they can apply for the Young Carers Package which includes digital vouchers, access to subscriptions and exclusive opportunities to help young carers to take a break.

If you are the parent or primary carer of a child (under 18) who is an inpatient in hospital, you can claim for financial help towards food, travel and, where appropriate, accommodation when you go to see them. Claims can be made through the Young Patients Family Fund. You can also claim for financial help towards food, travel and accommodation for any of your child’s brothers or sisters who are also coming to the hospital to see their sibling.

You must claim from the Young Patients Family Fund within 3 months of the young inpatient being discharged from hospital.

You can find out more about the Young Patients Family Fund and make a claim on the mygov.scot website.

The Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment for young people aged 16 to 19 who spend an average of 16 hours caring for someone who receives a disability benefit.

Young carers can spend this grant on anything they want. Examples of what other young carers have used it for are: new clothes, a day out, hobbies, driving lessons, laptops and online streaming subscription. 

Find out more about the grant and apply on the mygov.scot website or call 0800 182 2222.

Time to Live grants help carers and young carers to take short breaks and have a rest. Taking a break can mean different things to different people, and young carers have used the fund to get things like bikes, tablets, music lessons and exercise equipment. You can apply to the Time to Live fund through your local carers centre.

The Scottish Welfare Fund provides one-off grants to help people who are on lower incomes. The Crisis Grants support people who are facing an emergency or disaster, and Community Care Grants help people to start or maintain a settled home. For more information and details on how to apply visit the mygov.scot website.

People across Scotland now have free access to the Togetherness Online Learning Pathways for parents, carers and teenagers. The pathways cover a range of topics and ages, from pregnancy to 19+ years. Togetherness online pathways take parents on a learning journey for understanding childhood development, behaviour and wellbeing to help build stronger connected relationships and resilience for the everyday. 

There are also resources specially designed for teenagers, to help them understand themselves, their emotions, and how their brain changes in adolescence. There are even courses for parents if you are keen to think about relationships and experiences that may have influenced you across your own life.  

You can find out more at Togetherness and access the courses for free using the code TARTAN.

The Scottish Child Payment helps towards the costs of supporting families. It is a weekly payment (paid every 4 weeks) for every eligible child under the age of 16. There is no limit on the number of children you can claim for, the amount payable is reviewed annually, so it could increase.

Scottish Child Payment is payable to individuals or their partners who live in Scotland, are in receipt of certain qualifying benefits and are either the main person responsible or in some cases their partner, for children under the age of 16. This includes kinship carers.

If you already get Scottish Child Payment, Social Security Scotland will automatically check if you can get these payments:

• Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment
• Best Start Grant School Age Payment.

If you don’t receive Scottish Child Payment, or have opted out of automatic payments, you must apply for Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment.

Scottish Child Payment does not affect any other UK or Scottish Government benefits in receipt. To understand how Scottish Child Payment might affect local council allowances please contact your local authority.

Find out more

You can find out more about the Scottish Child Payment and make an application on mygov.scot here.

You can find out more about Best Start Grant and make an application on mygov.scot here.

You may be entitled to a school clothing grant from your local authority. You can find a link to check if you’re eligible by visiting the mygov.scot website.

Every child in P2 and P3 gets a free bag packed full of fun games and stories to help your child with their learning. You will get your bag through your child’s school. Find out more at the Scottish Book Trust's website. 

The Transition Fund is available for young disabled people aged 16-25. The fund can provide up to £4,000, for up to 1 year, to support young people living with disabilities to improve their lives. This includes autism, learning difficulty, physical disability, mental health (e.g. anxiety or depression) or hearing or visual impairments. Visit the Independent Living Transition Fund's website to find out if you can apply, and find out more about who has applied before, and what they received funding for.