Supporting people who care for family and friends
CoEL 
The National Carer Organisations are calling on all political party candidates to commit to supporting unpaid and young carers in Scotland ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2026. The 2026 manifesto has been published today! Fiona Collie from Carers Scotland says “The Carers Manifesto is about ensuring carers are supported, helped to stay … Read more
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 29th October. We had a fantastic turnout and we valued the opportunity to reflect on the past year together. Members and guests heard from Jim Conway, Chair of the CoEL board, our CEO Jenny White, Louise Kennedy, Carer Support Worker, and … Read more
Our 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) is coming up. It will be held on Wednesday 29th October 2025 at the Fraser Centre in Tranent between 10am and 12pm. If you would like to join us for this important annual event, please contact us on 01316650135 or centre@coel.org.uk Light refreshments of tea, coffee and baked goods … Read more
You may remember that 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 … Read more
Have you heard about Venturing Out’s Carers Adventure Wellbeing Group? This group is about adventurous activities, offering a break from the caring routine and a setting for social connection. Activities have included cooking in the woods, climbing rock faces, paddleboarding & kayaking in Musselburgh Lagoons and exploring East Lothian on foot and bike with coastal … Read more
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
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