Supporting people who care for family and friends
CoEL 
Two of our wonderful volunteers, Trudi and Carol, along with Hilary from the CoEL team are participating in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk this year. Not only are they walking the whole 20 miles, they are doing so dressed as caring bears! That’s what we call commitment to the cause! They are raising funds to support the … Read more
Earlier this year, we consulted with parent carers to help us to review the group support that we were offering. We received a fantastic response that has really helped to inform our redevelopment of the group support. Parent carers told us that they’d like to see us offering a combination of in person and online … Read more
We’re delighted to introduce Jenny White, who joined Carers of East Lothian as Chief Executive Officer in July and has been getting to know the team and the organisation. With over 20 years of experience in the voluntary sector — working with people with autism, families of prisoners and older people— Jenny brings a wealth … Read more
We are currently recruiting charity trustees for our Board of Directors. We are particularly keen to hear from people with experience in HR, Finance or Fundraising. A commitment to working as part of a group to guide CoEL’s work to improve the lives of carers is the most essential quality we need. Recent experience as a carer would also be highly … Read more
We are currently recruiting for an administrative assistant at CoEL. The role is part time: 24 hours per week. The salary is: £22,325 – £23,873 pro-rata and the role is Hybrid. Closing date is 11th July 2025. We offer very flexible working and 6% matched pension. We are a Carer Positive Exemplary employer, as well … Read more
East Lothian Health and Social Care Mental Health teams have launched a new single point of contact support telephone line to access a wide range of mental health services. The phoneline is available for members of the public to self-refer into, as well as GPs, medical professionals and community groups looking to support individuals presenting … Read more
Join East Lothian Rehabilitiation Service for their Tech Drop-In Sessions. Sessions run on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with some morning, afternoon and evening availability. Dates between now and December are shared on the image below. Are you curious about how technology can help you stay safe, active, and independent at home? Visit them at the WellWynd … Read more
On 10th June 2025, the Scottish Parliament passed the Care Reform Bill. For the first time, unpaid carers in Scotland will have a legal right to breaks from caring. This is an historic moment for carers and the carers’ movement, who have been campaigning for the right to a break for carers for over a … Read more
This week is Carers Week. Carers Week is a national campaign held each year to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face, and recognise the incredible contribution they make to families and communities across the UK. It also encourages those who may not yet identify as carers to recognise their role and … Read more
My name is John. I’m 76 years old and I care for my wife Jane who is 81. I’ve been caring for Jane for 22 years. I was on the lorries working as an HGV driver. I was going up and down the road and she fell in the back yard on a really wet … Read more