Unpaid carers are Scotland’s largest social care workforce.  Since the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, self-directed support has been the vehicle for unpaid carers who are eligible for social work funded support to carry out their caring duties.  This means that unpaid carers who have support should have access to the same flexibility in arranging their support as disabled people.

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​We ran a series of 'Unpaid Carers' Action Learning Sets, between August 2025 and August 2026,  which were attended by both unpaid carers and professionals.  At each of these sessions we discussed various themes, including caring roles, rights and legislation, relationships, flexible budgets, breaks for carers and the barriers and challenges carers faced on a daily basis.  As a result of 12 months of collaborative learning, testing and development during these sessions, we developed the 'Unpaid Carers' toolkit.

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This resource has been co-produced with unpaid carers and those working in roles that support carers. Through our series of action learning sets, participants shared experiences, challenged assumptions, and worked together to develop practical approaches that reflect what matters most to carers.

The toolkit has been further strengthened through testing with local carer organisations, ensuring that the content is practical, relevant and grounded in real-world experience.

 

At In Control Scotland, we know that the best solutions emerge when people with lived experience are equal partners in designing change. This toolkit is an example of that principle in action, and we are proud of what has been created collectively.

You can download the toolkit here:​