Trevor's story: making memories on the North Coast 500

Trevor's story: making memories on the North Coast 500

For many years, Trevor has been the primary carer for his wife, who lives with physical health conditions and severe anxiety. Alongside providing significant support to his wife, Trevor and his wife also help care for her elderly parents. In recent months, increasing health and caring responsibilities have placed considerable pressure on the family, making day-to-day life particularly challenging.

The demands of caring had begun to take a toll on Trevor and his wife as a couple. Trevor felt he needed to provide even more support to ensure his wife felt safe and as happy as possible, while also helping her continue in her caring role for her parents.

When discussing the importance of taking a break, Trevor shared his long-held dream of travelling Scotland's famous North Coast 500 (NC500). It was something he and his wife had talked about for years but never thought they would be able to do. With encouragement and support from his local carers' centre, as well as assistance from another family member, Trevor decided to use a Time to Live microgrant to help make the trip a reality.

The grant contributed towards travel costs, accommodation, and a NC500 planning guidebook, allowing Trevor and his wife to enjoy a much-needed break together and create special memories away from their caring responsibilities.

With rising travel and accommodation costs often being significant barriers for carers seeking a break, the microgrant provided vital support that enabled Trevor and his wife to prioritise their own wellbeing and spend meaningful time together.

"As well as the quality time we spent together on the road - taking everything at our own pace - a lot of the enjoyment actually came from using the guidebook and planning the trip. It gave us something positive to focus on and helped take our minds off the day-to-day stresses. The break was amazing. It's something we'll remember for a long time, and on difficult days we can look back on those memories and smile."

The NC500 adventure gave Trevor and his wife more than just a holiday. It offered time to reconnect and recharge, leaving them with treasured memories that will continue to support them through the challenges of caring.

Find out more about Time to Live here.