12 young BME girls aged between 12 and 16 who have caring responsibilities for a family member in Edinburgh are set to benefit from an award of £6,001 made to the Yolo Sistas project at MCFB.

The money, from the Creative Breaks Fund and provided by the Scottish Government, will be used to help improve the emotional well-being and confidence of the young people by offering them an opportunity to discuss issues affecting their lives, try out new activities and build support networks.

“It’s a multi-cultural group with the girls coming from many different countries and religious backgrounds. They show a real appreciation and respect for each other’s differences”.
Anna Portaro, Project Leader of the Yolo Sistas group  

In total, the programme has awarded just under £1 million to 68 projects from Orkney to the Scottish Borders, which will collectively benefit more than 4000 carers and their families.

One of the young people in the group said: “‘We’re like a family. I was alone and I’ve made friends through MCFB. It’s home away from home.”

“These short breaks are really important for the young people as they give opportunities to try new experiences and build new friendships.”
Steve Gowenlock, Chief Executive MCFB

This is the fifth year of the Creative Breaks programme which was established in 2011 by the Scottish Government and is administered by carers’ charity Shared Care Scotland. The aim of the fund is to increase the range and choice of short breaks opportunities for carers of adults, young carers and the people they care for. The fund pays for the development of new services that create opportunities for carers and their families to meet friends and enjoy leisure activities together or for families to enjoy a much-needed family break away together.