A warm welcome to the April 2026 edition of Carers’ Connection.
As spring arrives, we are pleased to bring you the latest updates and opportunities from across our service and the wider Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership (ACHSCP).
Towards the end of 2025, ACHSCP sought views from people across Aberdeen on thirteen proposed ideas aimed at reducing spending and supporting the delivery of a balanced budget for 2026–2027. The consultation invited carers, families, community members, and partner organisations to share their thoughts on how best to protect essential services while managing increasing demand and financial pressure.
The results of this engagement exercise and the feedback provided by the public are now available, and you can find a detailed summary on page five. These insights have helped to inform several challenging but necessary decisions across the Partnership.
We want to reassure you all that our service has not been directly impacted by these measures. Our support remains unchanged, and our commitment to you continues as strongly as ever.
You all make an extraordinary difference every single day. We know that caring can be rewarding, but it can also be physically and
emotionally demanding, and we want to take time to acknowledge and applaud your ongoing efforts - your strengths, your resilience, and the vital role you play within our community.
To celebrate you all, we are hosting an Afternoon Tea event with entertainment on Thursday 11 June from 1:30pm – 4:30pm in the Madri Lounge at Pittodrie Stadium, providing an opportunity for you to take time for yourselves and enjoy a well-deserved break.
We appreciate that you may not be able to leave the person you care for, and if this is the case they may also attend as long as no personal care or moving and handling is required. Places are limited, so to secure your spot please contact the office by phone or email before May 25th.
Thank you for your continued engagement, which helps us improve our service, respond to what matters to you, and ensure your voices remain central in everything we do.
Andrew Falconer, Service Coordinator
Stay up to date with all the latest news on our Facebook page. The page is public, and you don’t need to have a Facebook account to access it: https://www.facebook. com/aberdeencarerssupportservice
Carers from our Coffee & Crafts Wee Blether Group modelling the tote bags they made recently
Meet the team
Andrew Falconer Service Coordinator
Tel: 07917 521268
andrew.falconer@ quarriers.org.uk
Nicola Black Administrator
Tel: 07917 521879
nicola.black@ quarriers.org.uk
Mel Combstock
Family Wellbeing Worker
Tel: 07808 241878
mel.combstock@ quarriers.org.uk
Lauren Gardiner Family Wellbeing Worker (Short Breaks)
Tel: 07917 521874
lauren.gardiner@ quarriers.org.uk
Ingrid Penny
Depute Project Manager
Tel: 07721 143392 ingrid.penny@ quarriers.org.uk
Tracey Grant Administrator tracey.grant@ quarriers.org.uk
Elaine Dukes
Parent Carer Advisor
Tel: 07917 521852
elaine.dukes@ quarriers.org.uk
Teresa Massie Carer Advisor
Tel: 07917 521853
teresa.massie@ quarriers.org.uk
Susan Middler Digital and Community Inclusion Worker
Vicky Emslie Family Wellbeing Worker Tel 07812 376475
vicky.emslie@ quarriers.org.uk
Lauren Milton Family Wellbeing Worker (Triage)
Tel: 07939 173970 lauren.milton@ quarriers.org.uk
Kyle Fitzpatrick Performance Coordinator
kyle.fitzpatrick@ quarriers.org.uk
Rebecca Bridle Family Wellbeing Worker Tel 07551 018643
rebecca.bridle@ quarriers.org.uk
Allyson Flockhart Family Wellbeing Worker Tel: 07554 555027
allyson.flockhart@ quarriers.org.uk
Anne Ruby Family Wellbeing Worker
Tel 07423 115627
anne.ruby@ quarriers.org.uk
Meet the team (continued)
Anna Schmitt
Family Wellbeing Worker (Short Breaks)
Tel: 07917 051489
anna.schmitt@ quarriers.org.uk
Susan Shaw
Family Wellbeing Worker
Tel: 07531 193656
susan.shaw@ quarriers.org.uk
Remembering Mary
Mary, who was cared for brilliantly by her husband of 60 years, Zander, used to enjoy attending our Middlefield Wee Blether group every Monday with him, and, whilst chatting to her one day, we were delighted to learn that she had worked for Quarriers as a children’s nurse in the 1960s, looking after babies and toddlers at Quarriers Village in Bridge of Weir.
Sadly, Mary passed away on New Year’s Eve, with her beloved Zander by her side, and Zander and family felt it was only fitting that monies from her funeral collection be donated to Quarriers, partly going towards treating the group to a lunch in memory of Mary at the Craighaar Hotel.
Susan, one of Mary and Zander’s daughters, said: “Thank you for doing this. I know my mum would be very happy that the money is being spent locally, and going out for a memorial lunch is a wonderful idea.”
The group drank a toast to Mary, enjoyed delicious food, and a memorable time was had by all! The wonderful Craighaar team rounded the lunch off by kindly providing everyone with complimentary teas and homemade fudge, and
Shirree Smith
Family Wellbeing Worker (Triage)
Tel: 07919 891453 shirree.smith@quarriers. org.uk
Sara Wilson
Family Wellbeing Worker
Tel 07796 966117
sara.wilson@ quarriers.org.uk
each group member went home with a teabag in a keepsake envelope with this lovely verse on the front:
In loving memory of Mary, 1940 – 2025
Take a quiet moment to have a cup of tea
Remember all the good times and happy memories
Big-hearted brothers
Our grateful thanks to carers Richard and Brian for the generous donation from their much-loved mum Doreen’s funeral collection after she passed away peacefully in February at the remarkable age of 100.
It is truly appreciated and will make a meaningful difference to the people we support.
The Right to Breaks
Information from the Scottish Government regarding consultation on ‘The Right to Breaks’: There are an estimated 700,000 to 800,000 adult unpaid carers and around 27,000 young carers in Scotland. It is crucial that carers are supported to have a life alongside caring, and that they are able to sustain and improve their own health and wellbeing.
We want to understand the views of carers and others on key issues to be set in regulations and guidance, and what these might mean to people in relation to their experience of providing or receiving unpaid care.
A consultation for people to share their views is now open.
We will use the answers to inform the new regulations and guidance which we need to make sure the right to breaks is delivered effectively and consistently.
The consultation will be open until Friday 22 May 2026. Please follow the link to share your views: https://bit.ly/3Na312o
A result for Shirley!
We recently invited Gillian Smith, Health Defence Coordinator with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, to attend some of our Wee Blether groups to offer blood pressure checks to carers.
At our Danestone group, all three of carer Shirley’s blood pressure readings were so high that Gillian advised her to see her GP.
After seeing a doctor, Shirley said: “I always thought I was healthy and had no issues. The doctor asked me why I’d gone to Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, and I said that I hadn’t; that they’d attended a Quarriers group that I go to!
“The doctor confirmed that my blood pressure was extremely high, and I am now on medication to regulate it. If it hadn’t been for getting it checked at the Wee Blether group, who knows what could have happened!
“I was already happy that I had taken the plunge and joined the group, as I really enjoy going along every week and chatting to everyone – but now I have even more reason to be grateful for my membership of the group! Thank you, Quarriers.”
Golf in Society
Golf in Society will support people in Aberdeen living with long-term medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and depression by providing regular, inclusive golf activities that promote social connection, mental wellbeing, and gentle physical activity, helping participants reduce isolation and maintain physical ability for as long as possible.
The programme also offers unpaid carers reliable and consistent respite, allowing them time away from their caring responsibilities, improving their mental health and reducing stress.
By combining meaningful activity for participants with dependable respite for carers, the sessions will improve quality of life for both groups and help sustain caring relationships over the long term.
The free, weekly two-hour sessions delivered with one-to-one support for the participants will be held at Nigg Bay Golf Club at Balnagask Golf Course, with a springtime start date yet to be confirmed.
Learn more at https://golfinsociety.com/ or contact Brian Pahlmann with any questions: bpahlmann@sportaberdeen.co.uk / 07786 695239.
Budget update
Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership (ACHSCP): Budget Feedback
From 17 November to 14 December 2025, we asked people in Aberdeen for their views on 13 ideas to save money to help us stay on budget in 2026–2027.
ACHSCP ran an online survey, held 10 inperson meetings across the city, and 2 sessions for British Sign Language users. The ideas people shared have guided the
Integration Joint Board (IJB) – who plan, commission, and oversee services – in deciding which options had to be taken to save the required £14.5 million.
This table outlines the (1) budget options, (2) survey results [the percentage of people who thought the option would have a high negative impact] and (3) reasons for those decisions:
End Horizons Transport Contract
Redesign Allied Health Professional services
Review Care Home provision due to changing demand
Review Contracts to reconfigure, close or reduce services
Review Social Work Out of Hours service
Increase Adult Social Care Eligibility Criteria
Reduce support to Unpaid Carers
Learning Disability (LD) Supported Living
Leave Middlefield Hub
Leave Foresterhill Health Centre
Reduce telephone response to nonemergency service receptions.
Cease the Carers Strategy Improvement Fund
Cease the Health Improvement Fund
16%
31%
30%
Transport services to and from Horizons will be stopped and other travel options will be used instead.
There is a need to redesign Allied Health Professional (AHP) services (e.g. physiotherapists, occupational therapists) to prioritise people most in need. This means some people will wait longer to see an AHP.
Changing demand: more people with healthcare needs are choosing to stay in their own home or move into very sheltered housing. This reflects the reduced need for Care Home provision and the increasing demand for nursing home placements.
30% We must review commissioned services and terminate or reconfigure some to ensure value for money and alignment with ongoing needs. This will ensure we pay only for what we need.
21% It was felt important to review social work out-of-hours to reduce unnecessary demand. This will include defining the emergency response that needs to be in place.
41% This decision was strongly guided by the response to our survey. The IJB therefore rejected the proposal to raise the eligibility criteria to ‘emergency/urgent’ only.
41% This decision was also strongly guided by the responses to our survey. The IJB rejected the proposal to reduce support where there was already substantial support in place for unpaid Carers
Those with supported living placements will be reviewed. Some people might be moved to more suitable placements to meet their assessed needs.
12% We have services in Middlefield Hub but only use 40% of space available. Services will be relocated to maximise budgets for frontline services, not premises costs.
14% We only use 65% of the space available and could relocate services to maximise budgets for frontline services, not premises costs. Elmbank Group Practice, Westburn Medical Group and Boots Pharmacy will remain at Foresterhill.
We will reduce receptionist posts by not filling some vacancies as they arise and provide less daily telephone cover for non-emergencies.
26%
28%
Remove funding for the Unpaid Carers Strategy Improvement Fund which trials innovative alternatives to mainstream support and are tailored to individual need. Existing projects will continue to be monitored to help their effectiveness and value for money.
Remove the funding for community-led health improvement activity. Existing projects will continue to be monitored to assess their effectiveness and value for money
IJB chair Hussein Patwa said: “There is no doubt that the work ahead of us to make the necessary savings will be challenging and require the combined efforts of us all. But the professionalism and commitment of our staff will ensure that we continue to provide the best possible care for those who depend upon us. Together, and with the full support of the IJB, we will make health and social care provision in Aberdeen sustainable into the future.”
ACHSCP thanks everyone for taking the time to engage, and share their views on all the options. Clearly, there were no easy decisions to take. But your feedback has helped the IJB better understand the priorities of people living in Aberdeen.
Wonderful wellbeing
From February until the end of March, we ran a series of carers’ wellbeing sessions as part of the EPICS project, designed to support carers with their physical and mental health.
EPICS (Emotional, Practical, Inclusive, Collaborative and Sustainable) was made possible thanks to Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership’s Carers Improvement Project and included an Emergency First Aid course, a talk by Elaine Mottram, author of ‘You Can’t Pour From An Empty Cup’, ceramic painting, yoga, relaxation, self-care for carers, and a health walk around Duthie Park led by Sport Aberdeen.
Our grateful thanks to Polmuir Bowling Club for granting us the use of their hall for these activities.
“I thought the yoga session was great and I really enjoyed it.”
“I found the talk empowering, helpful, and reassuring.”
“I’ve been sleeping better since I’ve been following the breathing exercises I was shown, and, thanks to the tutor’s encouragement, I have now attended a Tai Chi class.”
“It’s wonderful that Quarriers provides us with all these opportunities.”
A second EPICS programme of support has just got under way, starting with Creative Art sessions.
This second programme will also include Creative Gardening, cooking, and a Mental Health First Aid course, along with gym memberships and counselling.
We are also in the very early stages of organising Creative Writing sessions and bus trips. To find out more, please ask your Family Wellbeing Worker or give the office a call on 01224 914036.
Parent Club
As a Parent Carer, knowing which benefits you’re entitled to, and how to apply for them, can feel challenging, but Parent Club can guide you to a trusted adviser to help you find all the benefits and one-off payments your family may be entitled to. Find out more here:
A ‘carent’ is a modern term referring to an adult child who is caring for one or both ageing parents, in-laws, or elderly relatives.
Over four million people in the UK are carents. Together, they provide £100bn of unpaid care every year – an average of £25,000 per household.
Carents Room is a dedicated hub offering free expert advice, support, and a like-minded community for those caring for ageing parents.
More information here: https://carents.co.uk/
Carers’ Corner
Huge thanks to Karen for this lovely article and beautiful photos.
“I write this in recognition of Quarriers, who have helped me so, so much.
“I have a lovely Quarriers Family Wellbeing Worker, Mel, and although I’m technically no longer a carer as my brother, Robbie, sadly passed away, I can be supported by her up to a year following my loss.
“She has been a great help and even sat in with me at home during a difficult video call. She knew I was super anxious and stressed and wanted to be there for me.
“She came to my house with a lovely card. She didn’t have to do this, and it just shows what a caring, considerate lady she is.
“The Listening Service, which I accessed through Quarriers, provides a safe, confidential space free from judgement, by a trained community chaplaincy listener. I had a lovely lady, Aileen, who was so calming and said the right things at the right times. She sees a lot of different people, but she always remembered past conversations and genuinely showed a real interest and gave some very good, helpful advice.
“If any of you need to get things that are really affecting you off your chest, then I highly recommend this service.
“The Wee Blether groups run by Quarriers are for carers to get together and have a chat. Teas, coffees and snacks are provided, and my group leader, Susan, was so informative and willing to help.
“If you’re a carer and are feeling in any way isolated, overwhelmed or frustrated then Quarriers are there to help.
“Being a carer is so rewarding but it can also be exhausting. Robbie was my life for nearly three years, and he was the most amazing wee brother.
“When he passed away, I honestly wondered what on earth I was going to do with myself. Never did I think that I would not only have a new house but also a new job in a few short months.
“New beginnings – but never forgetting family who are no longer with us.”I
If you have anything you would like us to feature in a future edition, whether it’s a photo, poem, useful info for other carers, or anything else carer-related, please send it to susan.middler@quarriers.org.uk
Jo Blogs
Hello again.
I can’t believe it’s April already, with such terrible weather to begin the year which went on for days - weeks, even! Dark, cold, dreich times.
Then, one day in late February, a special occasion took place: a little bit of blue sky appeared, and the SUN came out from behind the clouds, which we all appreciated so much.
A special occasion indeed, and we had another special occasion in February - our daughter’s 40th birthday. She and the whole family couldn’t believe it, and she had a lovely day.
Through all she has to put up with - the pain, the medication, the inability to move about on her own, she really had a special day, and we were so thankful as friends, relations, neighbours and carers popped in to see her.
You know that life is made up of special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and holidays - times that are happier, some sadder, but all times that we certainly remember. In fact, each year is made up of special occasions.
Looking at the calendar, we have JanuaryNew Year, February - Valentine’s Day, March - Mother’s Day, then Easter usually comes in April, and it goes on throughout the year to Halloween, Guy Fawkes, St. Andrew’s Day, Christmas, and that’s another year gone by –another trip around the Sun!
This reminds me so much of a song from the 1960s by The Byrds called “Turn! Turn! Turn!
(To Everything There Is a Season)”:
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose under Heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late!
The song is based on a Bible reading from the Old Testament – Ecclesiastes, and these words show the ever-changing times of our lives. Thoughts of past times, present times, future times, each one a special occasion to be born, to die, to laugh, to cry, to love, to hate, to find peace.
I think of Aberdeen Carers Support Service and the special occasions that carers can be a part of throughout the year, from the Wee Blether groups throughout the city to connecting with other local organisations, and to much-needed breaks away.
All of these help alleviate the pressures and stresses of caring for our loved ones. We can come alongside others experiencing similar situations and be able to share the load of what it is to be a carer.
Well done to the Quarriers team for this all-year-round support, each one a special occasion in itself. As the days, weeks and months TURN, TURN, TURN, the song says that it isn’t too late for peace – peace in the world, peace in our lives and for our loved ones.
That’s what I call a really special occasion for each of us, and if you can manage a little time to yourself, sit down, look at the photo above and feel the warmth and peace within it.
My prayers go with each and every one of you at this time.
Creative Breaks
Alice got in touch to tell us about a fantastic multi-city break she enjoyed last year while her husband was in respite. Thanks, Alice – you certainly packed a lot in!
“In early November, I used Creative Breaks funding to go down south for a six-day holiday visiting friends and relatives.
“The first stop was Edinburgh, where I stayed with one of my best friends, Yi, for two days. She is an unpaid carer too. As we hadn’t seen each other for quite a long while, we had so much to catch up on with each other that we didn’t stop talking for the whole of the first evening. The next day, Yi took me around East Lothian, where we visited a farm and the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick. To me, these places were more interesting than walking along the Royal Mile and Princes Street in Edinburgh city centre.
“On the third day, I took the train to Durham to visit an ex-colleague, Frank, and his family. They made me very welcome, not only cooking me delicious meals every day but driving me to visit Durham Cathedral and Beamish Open Air Museum.
“Durham cathedral is a solemn and magnificent building with a thousand years of history, and Beamish Museum took me back to live in the 20th century.
“I went for a day trip from Durham to Manchester by train in order to have lunch with two of my secondary school classmates in Chinatown, then had afternoon tea with another friend before I got back on a train to
Teodora
“We went to Malaga for a week in January, where we were able to spend some quality time together as a family. The weather was sunny and we had a nice time with some sensory play on the beach. We also managed to visit some new places like Ronda and El Caminito del Rey, and our son really enjoyed these adventures. Thanks to Quarriers for allowing us to have this lovely time together.”
go for dinner with my niece in York. We were so excited to see each other.
“Although this sounds like an intensive holiday, going to a few cities and meeting so many people, I actually felt very relaxed and cheerful, because I could put my caring role aside and let my friends and relatives take care of me. I just enjoyed everything surrounding me, with no pressure at all.
“To have a short break is very important for an unpaid carer, so thank you very much to Quarriers for arranging the funding for me!”
Carers’ groups
In case we have to cancel or make changes to the groups listed below, please get in touch with the named contact in advance to ensure the group is running and to confirm your attendance.
Group Criteria
Where?
Airyhall Wee Blether Registered carers Airyhall Community Centre, Countesswells Road, AB15 8AD
Bon Accord Wee Blether Registered carers Filo Coffee House, 14-20 John Street, AB25 1BT
Bridge of Don Wee Blether Registered carers King’s Church, King’s Way, AB23 8BL
