A CLYDEBANK charity has been awarded nearly £5,000 to deliver a project to help improve the well-being of dozens of local unpaid carers.

The Glasgow Airport FlighPath Fund handed Carers of West Dunbartonshire a cheque for £4,700 with the aim of supporting local carers to improve their mental health.

The funds will be used to put over 40 local unpaid carers through the SMART (Stress Management And Relaxation Techniques) Thinking programme.

And Kim McNab from the charity welcomed the money, particularly in these challenging times.

She said: “Caring for a family member or friend can be very stressful.

Thanks to the support of the FlightPath Fund, The SMART Thinking project will allow us to deliver a much-needed programme of learning that helps unpaid carers identify triggers and manage stress.

“The project will give those taking part the opportunity to meet other carers and learn in a safe and supportive environment.”

Carers experiencing poor mental health will be able to take part in a series of interactive educational sessions that will provide them with the knowledge, skills and tools to manage their well-being more effectively.

As well as practical support, the SMART Thinking programme also offers emotional, psychological and peer support.

A national survey carried out pre-pandemic estimated that the number of unpaid carers in Scotland is between 700,000 and 800,000, although the actual figure is not known.

It was also estimated that nearly 30,000 of these carers were under 16.

Councillor June McKay, who sits on the FlightPath Fund’s committee on behalf of West Dunbartonshire Council, said: “It was great to meet with Kim and her team when I visited them at their base in Clydebank recently.

“This charity plays a critical role in offering support, services and advice to the many unpaid carers who devote so much time and effort looking after their friends or loved ones.

“The FlightPath Fund committee was keen to award the outright sum of £4,700 to ensure the carers using the organisation’s services get the support they need.”

More than £115,000 is being made available by the FlightPath Fund this year to support community groups, charities and sustainability-themed projects local to Glasgow Airport.

The Fund’s committee is continuing to urge neighbouring groups and organisations to submit applications and is keen to support sustainability-themed projects aimed at improving the environment in the communities local to the airport.