Political speed dating, news production, silent discos and SFA coaching are all part of the first ever Young Carers Festival on 13-14 September in West Linton.

Over 500 young carers from all over Scotland will attend the first ever Young Carers' Festival. The carers will all have the opportunity to speak to key decision makers at national level about how young carers' services should be carried out in the future.

On day two, MSPs and guests will be put on the spot during Political Speed Dating, where groups of young carers will have four minutes to get answers to their questions.

The aim of the Festival is to give young carers a voice in how the proposed National Young Carers Forum should be established.

A young carer is a child or young person under the age of 18 who carries out a caring role which would normally be undertaken by an adult. Young carers are 45% less likely to leave school with a qualification and one third of them self harm.

Scottish Young Carers Development Manager, Louise Morgan, says: 'Young carers in Scotland have been asking for their own festival for several years. Some have made the long trek south to the English Young Carers Festival, but say that they feel left out when it comes to consulting on matters of policy.  This is a fantastic development and is a win – win situation for young carers and the Scottish Government.’

The Scottish Government has provided £200,000 to enable the Young Carers' Festival to take place.