Rhona Brankin
Midlothian
Working largely out of sight, tirelessly and dutifully carers throughout Scotland support the most vulnerable and all too often need significant support themselves.  And while they relieve the state to the tune of almost the entire NHS Scotland budget, their contribution to those they care for and to society as a whole goes well beyond this enormous monetary measurement.  I am pleased to have this opportunity to voice my support for carers in Scotland.  Events like Carers Week will help greatly to continue gaining vital recognition for carers and I wish Carers Scotland and the carers they represent the greatest of success.

Trish Godman
West Renfrewshire
I am proud to give Carers Week 2010 my support.  I want to see more support for carers, especially young carers who are too often hidden or isolated.  The army of unpaid carers in Scotland play a vital role in our communities, helping loved ones and family members who can not help themselves.  Selfless Scottish carers often make big sacrifices in their own lives to care for relatives and do not ask for much in return.  It is only right that we use Carers Week 2010 encourage more carers to come forward, recognise their sacrifices and say thank you for their hard work and dedication.

Annabel Goldie
West of Scotland
Our carers in Scotland are a group of often unsung and invisible heroes and heroines.  While their dedication, care and commitment may be recognised at home, there is a danger that too many of us may take their selfless contribution for granted.  Carers Week is an excellent way of trying to redress the balance.

Christine Grahame
South of Scotland
I was not aware until I entered parliament 11 years ago, just how many people in Scotland, from the octogenarian supporting her husband, to the young children supporting parents comprise that great army of carers whose love and dedication too often goes unseen and unheard.  Society owes a duty of care to them in financial help, support and time to themselves, a duty which is not always observed.

Iain Gray
East Lothian
There are more than half a million carers in Scotlandand the incredible job they do is taken for granted.  But without them we would face a crisis.  Their dedication ensures that so many people - the old, infirm, disabled - have a quality of life they would not have otherwise.  We count on carers to look after family members, relatives,  partners and friends and so much of it unpaid. Indeed there may be as many as 100,000 young carers looking afters parents. But warm words about the great work carers do is not enough. The Scottish government broke a manifesto promise to carers to provide an additional 10,000 weeks of respite care a week . What we have seen is a loss of 1,120 weeks,  or 4.7 per cent, compared to previous year. We need to see action from the Scottish government to provide money at local government and health board level to give carers the support they deserve.

Mary Scanlon
Highland & Islands
I am delighted to lend my support to Carers Week 2010 and the 675,000 Carers across Scotland.  Carers play a fundamental role towards the physical and mental wellbeing of family members, friends and relatives I every community across Scotland.  Undoubtedly they are the unsung heroes of our society whose work, assistance and commitment is all too often overlooked – that is why it is so important that we recognise Carers Week and the integral role Carers play throughout thousands of individual’s lives.  Carers should be fairly acknowledged through more respite care, which is appropriate to their needs.  Carers compliment the work that is done in the NHS – indeed they save the NHS as estimated £6.7 billion each year.  I will continue to stand up for Carers being valued in a way that will compliment and facilitate the immense work that they do throughout Scotland.

Shirley-Anne Somerville
Lothians
Carers can often be silent heroes, fulfilling a role that often goes unnoticed or unrewarded.  I know from experience within my own family that with the responsibility of caring for someone there often comes additional pressures on that individual’s own work and other family commitments.  Never the less carers continue to provide support and love day in, day out.  I had the opportunity to open the MECOPP Carers Centre in Leith recently which provides services to Black and Minority Ethnic carers and communities and was privileged to meet people there who have been caring for family members for many years, often in difficult circumstances.  VOCAL is another great local example of the work being carried out across the Lothians and I commend them for the work that they do to support carers, former carers and those working with carers.

David Whitton
Strathkelvin & Bearsden
I would like to send my very best wishes to everyone involved in this year’s Carers Week 2010.  I know how dedicated and self-sacrificing the carers throughout the country are, they are the unsung heroes of our society.  Each one of the 657,000 carers in Scotland provide a vital role in supporting more people to live independently, safely and with dignity in their own homes and communities.  We should all support, recognise and celebrate the incredible work that carers do – and that’s why I’m delighted to be supporting Carers Week 2010.