Children and Young People
Information Guides
Disabled Students in Further Education and Higher Education
Children and Young People:Frequently Asked Questions
Through our helpline we receive enquiries spanning a wide range of different topics. Here is a selection of those most asked:
Council Help for Disabled People
Scottish councils have responsibilities to help disabled people and their carers who qualify for help. These include:
- Financial help
- Care needs assessments for disabled people
- Providing support for carers
- Blue Badges
- Safeguarding people who are at risk of harm
Financial help
Councils are responsible for providing financial help, including
- Housing benefit – help with rent for people over State Pension age and for some younger people in special circumstances Claim Housing Benefit – mygov.scot
- Means-tested and non means-tested help with council tax costs Working out your council tax – mygov.scot
- Lump sum payments from the Scottish Welfare Fund; Crisis Grants (usually food, energy, or heating) or Community Care Grants to help people stay in, or settle into the community. https://www.mygov.scot/scottish-welfare-fund
Social work departments have powers to help with “Section 12” payments, for adults or children in an emergency if this would save the council costs in future. They can also make payments to promote the welfare of children in need.
Councils must also have a Housing “scheme of assistance” that may give information, advice, grants, loans, and practical assistance to homeowners or, to private tenants who need disability adaptations. https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/housing_conditions/scheme_of_assistance
Most council areas will have a Care and Repair service that will provide advice and help to older people and (in some areas) disabled people who are homeowners or private tenants. Find your local service here Office Locations | Care and Repair Scotland
Care needs assessments for disabled people
If you are disabled, your council’s social work department (or in Highland, NHS Highland) can assess your care needs, and agree a care plan to support you. The help you receive may include equipment, adaptations to your home, care at home, day care or a care home. Any help you receive that is classed as “personal care” is free.
You should be offered a choice in how your care is provided; this is called Self-directed support. Your options within your budget form the council are:
- 1 – a direct payment to you or someone else (such as a care agency) to pay for your own support
- 2 – you arrange the support
- 3 – the local council arranges the support
- 4 – a mix of the above
Support for carers
The Carers (Scotland) Act gives carers a right to support from their local council. A carer is anyone who is not paid for their caring and looks after a friend, family member or neighbour who is disabled. You do not have to be caring for a specific number of hours to be a carer.
Your local Carers Centre can explain what help is available locally. Any help a carer received from their local council is free. Find your local Carers Centre here https://www.careinfoscotland.scot/topics/support-for-carers/carer-centres/ and find out more about carers rights here https://www.careinfoscotland.scot/topics/support-for-carers/
Blue Badges
A Blue Badges provides parking concessions for on-street parking, some car parks, and disabled parking bays, allowing badge holders to park close to where they need to go
A Blue Badge belongs to a person, not a vehicle, so they can travel as a driver or a passenger. Find out more about Blue Badges here: https://www.mygov.scot/apply-blue-badge/eligibility
Protecting people who are at risk of harm
Councils have powers under the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 to protect adults who cannot look after their own safety and security and are at risk of harm because of disability, mental disorder, illness, physical or mental infirmity, sexual harm or institutional harm.
“Harm” means injury or damage and includes self-harm, neglect and abuse.
Councils and other public services (such as Police) will work together to support people. You can find out more here https://www.gov.scot/policies/social-care/adult-support-and-protection/
If you are worried that someone at risk of harm, you can find your local social work department here
Contact your council
You can find details of your council and its services here Organisations – mygov.scot
How can I get a RADAR key?
The National Key Scheme (NKS), often referred to as RADAR keys, offers disabled people independent access to locked public accessible toilets around the country. You can buy from Disability Rights UK either over the phone or through their website.
You can also purchase RADAR keys through some chemists and online.
For further information see our Accessible Toilets information guide or the Disability Rights UK website.
Call the Disability Information Scotland helpline on: 0300 323 9961
Children and Young People:Search for Local Organisations
Our quick search tool can connect you to over 3000 service providers, suppliers and organisations supporting people across Scotland. To find support near you, simply enter your search term and select your local authority.
| Organisation | Description |
|---|---|
| Fife Shopmobility-Kirkcaldy | Description of service: Provides free of charge manual and powered wheelchairs and scooters to people with limited mobility for use in shopping malls and town centres. Manual wheelchairs can be borrowed for longer use – overnight, weekends or holidays.… |
| Finchale Training College | Providing speciality progression support for people with multiple and complex barriers to employment |
| Flamingo Tours and Disabled Ventures | Aims: Provide personalised private tours to suit guests who require accessible transport and accommodation, the mature, or those who need to go at their own pace and not be part of a group. Tours are designed to your interests where possible. Services… |
| FND Grampian | FND Grampian offer support, advice and at our friendly peer to peer support meeting you will be no longer the only person you know who has FND. Strength comes from Solidarity. Let me introduce you to our fnd community. Fnd Grampian Meet up approximate… |
| Forth Music Therapy Services | Aims: To provide music therapy services for people with a wide range of physical and learning disabilities. Services provided: Contact the organisation for further information. |
| Forth Valley Disability Sport | Aims: To provide sporting opportunities for people with disabilities in the Forth Valley area. Services provided: Grant aid support Adult and junior sport and physical activity programmes Support pathways from local to National events Support regional… |
| Freedom One Life | Engineered for both indoor and outdoor use, the Series 5 has your back day in day out, mile after mile. Unlike other powerchairs currently on the market, it has been designed by a powerchair user who faces the same daily challenges and frustrations tha… |
| FTH Theatre | Description: There are a variety of spaces available within the arts venue. The Studio can accommodate 120 while the Main Hall can seat up to 580 people. The ground floor meeting room can seat up to 15 and there is a café bar on site. They can cater fo… |
| Galston Community Centre | Accessible venue hire in East Ayrshire |
| Gamble Halls | Accessible venue hire in Gourock, Inverclyde |
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