YOUNG carers in Helensburgh are set to get more help from a local charity thanks to two additional support workers.

A Big Lottery Fund grant of almost £200,000 will enable Helensburgh and Lomond Carers to add two additional young carer support workers – one full-time and one part-time – to its ranks, more than doubling the current young carers staff complement.

The award of £192,783 will pay the salaries of the two new staff, who will help deliver the charity's Connecting Young Carers programme, which provides one-to-one support, group work, information, advice and crisis support to young carers.

Eileen McCrory, manager at Helensburgh and Lomond Carers, said: “The funding will allow us to continue to support young carers locally and develop the services we offer to them and we thank the Big Lottery Fund for investing in our charity.”

Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland chair, said: “I am delighted that Helensburgh and Lomond Carers SCIO has been successful in securing a Big Lottery Fund grant.

“The funding will make a big difference where it is needed most and I wish the Connecting Young Carers service every success as it goes on to develop and expand its project.”

Helensburgh and Lomond’s MSP Jackie Baillie said: “The organisation provides a much-valued local service to help young people with caring roles feel more connected to the wider community and spend some time outside the family home with others their own age.

“I hope the news of Helensburgh and Lomond Carers’ success will encourage other groups in the area to get in touch with the Big Lottery Fund with any ideas they have for local projects.

“I would be more than happy to support any applications from local groups and charities.”

Lomond House serves as both the administrative and operation base for the charity, which is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), and acts as a hub for the delivery of a wide range of free services to unpaid carers. For more, visit helensburgh-carer-support.org/