Supermarkets need to prioritise access for young carers

Scottish Youth Parliament members have started a campaign to allow young carers get priority in supermarkets during lockdown.

Campaigners Ilse Cuthbertson MSYP, Carers Trust Scotland and Aaran McDonald MSYP, say young carers are still not getting access to supermarkets during protected hours set aside for vulnerable groups.

Young carers are facing age discrimination and refusal to access if they are accompanied by family members, they state.

One young person got in touch with their MSYP, saying: ““After waiting in the long queue, a member of staff said they were only allowing two people into the store per family. After explaining I am a young carer, the staff member still couldn’t understand why there needed to be two carers.

“I had to further explain my caring responsibilities for my brother and mum before the member of staff finally allowed us in. This was an emotional and frustrating situation and no young carer should need to go through this.”

MSYPs have written to local supermarket stores on behalf of their constituents, raising awareness of who young carers are, and why it is important to include these young people in dedicated shopping times.

Ilse Cuthbertson said: “We wanted to start #Supermarkets4Change as young carers and young adult carers have been approaching us due to the lack of understanding within supermarkets. We have learnt that this is not just an issue locally but nationally. This is an extremely important issue right now. We hope that supermarkets will start to understand the role that a young carer or young adult carer has.”