VOCAL
Supporting unpaid carers across Lothian to feel safe and warm at home
Our project at a glance
- Priority vulnerability group: Unpaid carers
- Strategic priority area: Supporting priority vulnerability groups to access tailored support services
- Support target: 475 households over 18 months
- Duration: September 2024 to March 2026
- Forecast SROI: £5.37
Why we’re working together
Unpaid carers support family members, neighbours or friends to manage a long-term condition, disability, or physical or mental health condition. It’s estimated that three in five people in the UK will become an unpaid carer at some point in their life.
In Edinburgh and Midlothian, there are more than 70,000 unpaid adult carers. VOCAL (Voice of Carers Across Lothian) supports and empowers unpaid carers through individual support, information, training and access to services.
Through VOCAL’s daily contact with carers, and biannual survey responses, it is becoming increasingly apparent that unpaid carers are finding it more difficult to sustain their caring role as they struggle with the cost-of-living crisis. This is especially challenging for carers who support those who rely on heat to keep well, and those who may have limited knowledge of energy affordability or energy safeguarding.
We’ve partnered with VOCAL to increase the capacity of its successful Money Matters service by introducing a Safe and Warm Energy Practitioner. This will enable the organisation to expand its existing service to provide unpaid carers with energy safeguarding and energy advice support.
Together, we want to ensure unpaid carers in Edinburgh and Midlothian – and those they care for – can feel safe and warm in their homes.
Project objectives
- Increasing financial stability for carers and confidence in managing household costs
- Improving carers’ energy efficiency knowledge
- Raising awareness of the Priority Services Register and supporting households to sign up
- Raising awareness of carbon monoxide and providing free CO alarms for households most in need
- Expanding the knowledge of professionals through training to further support unpaid carers
How we’re working together
One-to-one energy safeguarding and financial resilience support
Through VOCAL’s Money Matters programme, we’re providing one-to-one energy safeguarding and advice to 475 carers struggling to maintain a safe and warm home. VOCAL’s new dedicated Safe and Warm Energy Practitioner will provide advice and information to carers about energy efficiency measures for the home and how to use energy safely and affordably. Unpaid carers can also be referred to support from other local organisations for holistic support to help improve their health, wellbeing and financial circumstances.
Awareness raising campaign
Through our 18-month campaign, we aim to reach up to 50,000 unpaid carers with information on energy safeguarding and home energy efficiency through a range of marketing initiatives. This will include social media, email newsletters, printed newsletters and VOCAL’s websites.
We’re also sharing key safety information about how to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as educating unpaid carers on the benefits of the Priority Services Register.
How to get involved
Accessing support from VOCAL
As one of our VCMA network partners, you can refer unpaid carers in Edinburgh and Midlothian for support from VOCAL through the charity’s online referral form.
If you’re an unpaid carer and need help to stay safe and warm at home, you can find advice on VOCAL’s website. If you care for someone outside of Edinburgh or Midlothian, you can find your nearest carer centre on the Care Information Scotland website.
Becoming a VOCAL partner
VOCAL works with partners across all sectors to meet the physical, emotional, economic and social needs of carers. You can find out more about partnering with VOCAL on the charity's website.
Edinburgh and Midlothian’s carers contribute over 1.3 billion pounds to the local social care economy, but face significant financial challenges with the rising cost of energy. Many are forced to make impossible choices between heating their homes and other essential needs. Working with SGN, we hope this new service will help to alleviate some of the current cost of living pressures for carers.