Stuart's story: golden short breaks

Stuart's story: golden short breaks

Stuart is a carer for his brother, who lives with multiple sclerosis (MS) and mental health challenges. Caring is an important part of Stuart's life, but the demands of supporting his brother can sometimes leave him feeling tired, isolated and in need of time to recharge.

After speaking with his social worker about finding a positive way to take regular breaks from his caring responsibilities, Stuart was encouraged to apply for a Time to Live microgrant. During these conversations, he spoke about a hobby he had always wanted to try: gold panning. Living close to some of Scotland's best-known gold panning areas, he felt it would give him a reason to spend more time outdoors while combining it with the walks he already enjoyed.

With support from a Time to Live grant, Stuart was able to purchase the equipment needed to get started, including a gold pan, classifier sieve, snuffer bottle, small trowel and magnifying loupe.

The grant enabled Stuart to explore Scotland's famous gold panning locations, including Wanlockhead and Leadhills. Spending time in these beautiful natural surroundings has provided him with a valuable opportunity to step away from the pressures of caring and focus on something for himself.

Stuart describes gold panning as an escape from the pressures of caring. The time he spends outdoors searching streams and learning new skills has helped him build resilience and maintain his own health and wellbeing while continuing to support his brother.

Find out more about Time to Live here.