CARERS OF EAST LOTHIAN

What CARERS OF EAST LOTHIAN does

Carers of East Lothian (CoEL) is a Scottish registered charity (OSCR SC027000) founded in 1996 that delivers advice, advocacy, wellbeing activities, and practical support for unpaid adult carers across the East Lothian council area. Its service suite spans Adult Carer Support Plans, benefits and financial advice, Time for Me grants, Respitality respite breaks, monthly in-person support groups in Musselburgh, Dunbar, North Berwick, Port Seton, and Prestonpans (plus online groups via Zoom), workshops and training events, counselling, befriending, advocacy, Power of Attorney and free legal clinics, hospital discharge link services, and specialist support for mental health carers, parent carers, former carers, and dementia carers. The organization also operates a Financial Insecurity Fund (grants up to £100) and a Carers Panel for collective voice work. All services are provided free of charge to unpaid carers.

The underlying technology is deliberately modest and non-proprietary: a WordPress content website, Zoom for online support group delivery, Mixlr for online radio events, and JustGiving as the donation platform. There is no mobile application, no public API, no disclosed AI tooling, and no proprietary technology products. Distribution is multi-modal, combining in-person community venues across East Lothian, online referral forms, telephone and email support, and partner referrals from NHS Lothian, East Lothian Council, and the East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership.

The business model is that of a contract- and grant-funded nonprofit rather than a commercial enterprise. Core funding flows from NHS Lothian, East Lothian Council (under a 2021 statutory contract awarded for up to four years under the Carers Act (Scotland) 2016), the East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, and the Scottish Government. Supplementary income is generated through online donations via JustGiving and volunteer-led fundraising events including festive raffles. CoEL earns no direct service fees from its end beneficiaries, who receive all support free of charge.

Name

CARERS OF EAST LOTHIAN

Legal name

Carers of East Lothian

Website

https://coel.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Carers of East Lothian is a Scottish registered charity providing advice, advocacy, wellbeing activities, and practical support for unpaid adult carers across East Lothian. It delivers the statutory support service under the Carers Act (Scotland) 2016, funded by NHS Lothian, East Lothian Council, and the Scottish Government.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Carer Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Caregiver Support & Respite Coordination (Assessment/Scheduling/Voucher Navigation) (HLADAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family Caregiver Relief & Coaching (Respite-Integrated) (HSABAGAJ)

Keywords

• Carer support services
• Unpaid caregiver advocacy
• Community social care
• Carer wellbeing programmes
• Charitable care advice

Headquarters

HQ city

Haddington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government and Public Sector Funding: Core funding from NHS Lothian, East Lothian Council, and East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership to deliver advice, information and support services for unpaid carers under the Carers Act (Scotland) 2016.
2. Scottish Government Grants: Continuation funding from Scottish Government and East Lothian Council for Time for Me grants programme enabling unpaid carers to take breaks from caring.
3. Donations: Online donations facilitated through JustGiving platform. Fundraising volunteers organize events including festive raffles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Carers of East Lothian is a registered Scottish charity that delivers free, practical support, advice and wellbeing services to unpaid adult carers across East Lothian. Offerings span one-to-one carer support, Adult Carer Support Plans, benefits and Power of Attorney advice, counselling, befriending, advocacy, hospital link support, specialist programmes for mental health, dementia, and parent carers, Time for Me and Financial Insecurity Fund grants, plus support groups, workshops and respite opportunities.

Product overview

Carers of East Lothian (CoEL) is a charity providing a comprehensive suite of support services for unpaid carers in East Lothian, Scotland. Rather than a technology product, CoEL offers direct support services including one-to-one carer support, Adult Carer Support Plans, benefits advice, Time for Me grants for breaks, respite services, support groups (held both in-person across locations like Musselburgh, North Berwick, and Dunbar, and online via Zoom), workshops and training events, counselling, befriending, advocacy, legal advice clinics, hospital link services, and specialist support for mental health carers, parent carers, and those transitioning after caring. The organization also provides a Financial Insecurity Fund, carers identification cards, and operates a Carers Panel for collective voice work. Services are largely funded by NHS Lothian, East Lothian Council, East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, and the Scottish Government.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Carer Support Services Comprehensive one-to-one support, information and advice service helping unpaid carers in East Lothian manage their caring role and enhance their wellbeing.
• Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP) A recorded conversation about a carer's caring role, how it affects their life, and what support could make things easier, helping ensure carers get the right help in place.
• Benefits Advice and Support Assistance with understanding financial options, completing forms, advice on maximising income, and guidance on benefits entitlements for carers and the people they care for.
• Time for Me Grants Financial support programme enabling unpaid carers in East Lothian to take a break from their caring responsibilities, funded by the Scottish Government and East Lothian Council.
• Respitality Break from caring service providing respite options for unpaid carers.
• Support Groups Monthly support groups for carers across East Lothian, including Musselburgh, North Berwick, Dunbar, Mental Health Carer Support Group, Men Who Care, and an Online Carer Support Group.
• Workshops, Training and Events Regular workshops, training and events to help carers access information, including activities such as yoga, singing, craft groups, gardening and mindfulness courses.
• Counselling Services Professional counselling support for carers to help them cope with the emotional demands of caring.
• Befriending Programme Befriending support to help reduce isolation and provide social connection for unpaid carers.
• Advocacy Services Advocacy support to help carers have their voice heard in decisions affecting them and the people they care for.
• Power of Attorney / Legal Support Free information and assistance completing Power of Attorney forms, along with monthly legal advice clinics covering guardianship, wills, and advanced directives.
• Hospital Link Service Support for carers to be involved in hospital discharge planning when the person they care for is in hospital.
• Mental Health Carer Support Dedicated support for carers of people with mental health issues, including a dedicated worker and support group at Port Seton Community Centre.
• Parent Carer Support Support for parent carers who provide care for children with additional support needs, including group support and activities.
• Life After Caring Support for carers through transitions when their caring role changes or ends, addressing the emotional impact and helping prepare for life after caring.
• Financial Insecurity Fund Emergency financial support grants of up to £100 (sometimes more) for unpaid carers struggling to pay for food, fuel, or other essential bills.
• Carers Identification Cards East Lothian Identification cards for carers to help recognise their caring role and access support in the community.
• Carers Panel A group of carers and former carers who meet monthly to discuss potential solutions and contribute to improving services for carers.
• Advice, Information and Support Service Contracted service delivered on behalf of East Lothian Council under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 to provide advice, information and support for unpaid carers in East Lothian.

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership (ELHSCP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development of carers strategy, hospital discharge support, and carer education programmes including joint leaflet production for Carers Rights Day.
• Carers TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork Partner of Carers Trust - national organization representing Carers Centres. Recipient of Excellence for Carers Award and part of UK-wide network.
• Alzheimer ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of Carer Education Programme for people caring for someone living with dementia, piloted at Dunbar and Musselburgh Dementia Cafés.
• Venturing OutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdventure wellbeing group for carers offering activities including rock climbing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and woodland cooking. Expanded in second year to include parent carers.
• Art In HealthcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird year partnership for Caring Spaces monthly art group for unpaid carers, working with artist Juliana Capes.
• Music for WellnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusselburgh-based social enterprise delivering music and wellness activities for parent carers and families including festive fun sessions.
• MADE in East LothianminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal artist organization in Haddington that created festive craft workshop content for carers.
• East Lothian Rehabilitation ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTech drop-in sessions helping carers understand technology solutions for safety, activity, and independence at home.
• COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland)minorOthersQuality mark holder demonstrating commitment to counselling and psychotherapy standards.
• OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator)minorOthersRegistered charity (SC027000) regulated by OSCR.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mecopp (Minority Ethnic Carers of Older People Project): Scotland-based charity supporting unpaid carers from minority ethnic communities. Comparable mission, Scottish base, and carer-support portfolio, though with a distinct specialism.
• Crossroads Care Scotland: Scotland-based charity providing respite and carer support services across the country. Directly comparable to CoEL in mission, geography (Scotland), and focus on unpaid family carers.
• Alzheimer Scotland: Scotland's leading dementia charity and CoEL's partner on the Carer Education Programme and Dementia Cafés. Overlaps directly in supporting dementia carers in East Lothian.
• Vocal (Carers of Edinburgh): Edinburgh-based carers' centre offering advice, advocacy, and support for unpaid carers. Near-identical service model to CoEL, serving an adjacent local authority area in the same region.

Broad incumbents

• Carers UK: The leading national UK charity campaigning for unpaid carers. Comparable because it advocates and supports the same unpaid carer population CoEL serves, though at a national rather than East Lothian level.
• Carers Trust: UK-wide network of carers' centres of which CoEL is a Network Partner. Operates in the same carer support space, providing infrastructure, policy, and grant-making that CoEL depends on.

Regional players

• Age Scotland: National Scottish charity supporting older people, including those in caring roles. Overlaps with CoEL's elderly-carer segment and complementary wellbeing services across Scotland.

Emerging players

• Dementia UK: UK charity providing specialist dementia carer support through Admiral Nurses. Comparable to CoEL's Dementia Carer support strand and education programme partnership with Alzheimer Scotland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/coel92
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carers-of-east-lothian

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CARERS OF EAST LOTHIAN