Stirling Carers Centre

Emotional Support for Carers

By Katrina McDowell on Feb 5, 2025 in Giving, Global

Being a caregiver is a long-term commitment that can significantly impact carers’ health and finances. In such challenging times, the Stirling Carers Centre, supported by Yardi, provides much-needed relief to unpaid carers.

Stirling Carers Centre was established in 1992 in Stirling, Scotland and provides free and confidential support to local unpaid carers. Unpaid carers are people who support a friend or family member who couldn’t cope without them due to illness, disability, frailty, addiction or mental health conditions. Stirling Carers services include one-on-one practical and emotional support, advice and information, peer support groups, respite activities and a dedicated Young Carers Service for carers aged seven through seventeen. Stirling Carers Centre is committed to supporting unpaid carers in ways that meet their individual needs and offers practical and emotional support to help them continue to care for their loved ones.

“We will ensure that the voices of the carers are at the heart of what we do and are heard at a local and national level and that they have opportunities to take a break from caring,” explained Keri Moore, acting CEO of Stirling Carers Centre. She continued, “Early intervention is vital, so we will also focus on identifying hidden Carers by improving communication and upskilling professionals to be ‘Carer Aware’.”

Thanks to the generous funding from Yardi, the Stirling Carers Centre can provide much-needed relief to unpaid carers, inspiring hope and resilience. This funding enables the Centre to expand its reach, reaching more carers needing support and making a significant difference in their lives.

“We are very grateful to receive unrestricted funding from Yardi. This means we can use the funds to give Carers a break that best suits their needs without constraint on what this looks like. This is really important to ensure the wellbeing of Carers, so a big thank you from all of us at Stirling Carers Centre,” expressed Moore.

Stacey and family

Stacey, a dedicated carer for two of her children with a mix of physical and neurological conditions, has been benefiting from the Centre’s services for almost 10 years. The support they receive, thanks to Yardi and other donors, has been a lifeline for the family and will continue to be so in the future.

Stacey is part of its Parent Carers Group, which provides a space for people caring for children aged 16 and under to share their experiences, take a break from caring, and create memories at its inclusive family events. Two of Stacey’s children have also been involved with its Young Carers groups from a young age, giving them a chance to meet other young people in a similar situation, giving them a break from caring and talking to trained Young Carers officers about any worries they have.

“I spend a lot of my time at home with my brother, and although I like playing with him, that means I don’t get to do some things I want as often as I would like to. My main break from my caring role is when I’m at the Young Carer groups. I get to have fun without any responsibilities, so they are really important to me,” quotes Stacey’s other child, James, age 13.

Volunteer Opportunities

Stirling Carers Centre could always use volunteer help at its Adult Carers and Young Carers groups or events and help with fundraising. They also welcome anyone with specific skills that may benefit the organization or the carers they support to get in touch for a chat. Those interested can contact them at [email protected].

The Centre relies on donations to provide carers with various support services. Every donation makes a difference!

“We’re very grateful to Yardi for choosing Stirling Carers Centre as a cause and appreciate all the support.”

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