Councils support people to thrive at every stage of life, targeting support to tackle inequalities. We drive place-based, joined up, inclusive services for local communities. To achieve this and adapt to evolving challenges, the vital services we provide require further investment & support by the Scottish Government.
We are calling for:
Developing cohesive communities.
Enabling Scotland to be welcoming, generous and courageous. We call for a strategic approach to community cohesion to be developed for Scotland with local government, Scottish Government and civil society.
Meaningful support to tackle poverty.
Work must progress at pace to develop a joint strategic approach to tackling poverty, shared by the UK, Scottish and local government which moves beyond pilots, rationalises the range of funding streams and embeds proportionate universalism in anti-poverty approaches.
A clear commitment to valuing social care by bolstering funding with an immediate injection of an additional £750m.
Commit to continued and strengthened integration of health and social care, ensuring more support that is high quality; personalised; offers choice and control; and reduces inequalities.
Support for mental health and wellbeing with a focus on:
- Reducing drug deaths – through committing to investment in services that prevent people falling into crisis, recognising the unique and leading role that local authorities play.
- Suicide prevention – committing to increasing funding to grow the significant work already undertaken on suicide prevention in every local authority area in Scotland.
An end to violence against women and girls.
Move urgently to coherent, collective, and stable funding model, enabling high quality, accessible specialist services across Scotland for women, children and young people experiencing gender-based violence.
Meaningful recognition of the benefits of sport, culture and leisure.
Support to increase national and local investment in facilities and initiatives to support the health, wellbeing and education of our communities. Recognising the positive impact of local sport, leisure and cultural services.
