Whilst many businesses invest in state-of-the-art computers and up-to-the-minute software to keep them safe online, the digital experts at West Lothian’s Workflo Solutions are warning the most exploited vulnerability for many businesses is actually human error. And so to mark CyberScotland Week, which runs from Monday 23rd until Saturday 28th February, they are urging everyone to tighten up their protection.
Cyber-attacks that target small to medium-sized businesses have increased sharply in recent years, propelled by advances in AI technology.
From phishing scams and ransomware to credential theft and web-based intrusions, hackers are harnessing the power of AI to increase the speed, scale and sophistication of these devastating online attacks, stealing sensitive data for financial gain with greater ease than ever before.
And according to Workflo Solutions, many employees are simply not keeping pace with these fast-moving developments. As a result, they are putting businesses at significant risk.
It is estimated that more than 95% of data breaches in the UK are caused by human error. Significant incidents – categorised as those costing at least £500 – average nearly £195,000 per business, amounting to a staggering £14.7billion worth of damages per year to the UK economy.
The most common human errors include falling for phishing scams, using weak or compromised credentials, misconfiguring security settings, and falling victim to social engineering.
Commenting ahead of CyberScotland Week, Workflo Solutions’ managing director Michael Field urges businesses to stay vigilant; “CyberScotland Week is an opportune time to remind businesses of the need to create a strong security posture through their staff:
Create a culture where cyber security feels simple, relevant and part of everyday work.
Keep training short, frequent and practical by using real examples of phishing, social engineering and reconnaissance that staff might encounter.
Reinforce good habits through reminders, clear policies and easy routes to report suspicious activity.
Lead by example and reward secure behaviour so employees feel responsible and motivated to protect the organisation.
“As AI becomes more integrated into everyday systems and business processes, the overall attack surface continues to grow, creating new entry points for exploitation within interconnected digital environments.
“It is therefore vital that we come together during CyberScotland Week to raise awareness, boost resilience and reduce the risk of human error.”
To give businesses an extra helping hand during CyberScotland Week, Workflo Solutions is offering 200 businesses a free dark web domain audit.
By heading to www.workflo-solutions.co.uk and signing up for this free service, businesses will be notified if any of their company email addresses or passwords have been breached, enabling them to take proactive steps to reverse these vulnerabilities and avert a potential damaging attack.
Funding for broadcasting, education and cultural projects
A £620,000 package to support the continued growth of the Gaelic language has been announced by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes on the first day of World Gaelic Week.
The funding includes an additional £200,000 for MG ALBA (the Gaelic media service) to deliver high-quality content including series two of BBC ALBA’s award-winning crime thriller An t-Eilean.
Independent research has found that Gaelic media generates £1.34 for every £1 invested and supports 340 jobs across Scotland, including 160 in island communities.
The new funding will also support ongoing work to establish the first dedicated Gaelic cultural centre in the Highlands and structural improvements at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – the world’s only Gaelic-medium college on the Isle of Skye.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “This year’s World Gaelic Week is particularly special, being the first since Gaelic gained official status through the Scottish Languages Act.
“This new investment will help the language thrive, from broadcasting that brings Gaelic to new audiences to education initiatives that help more people learn it.
Watch Deputy First Minister @_KateForbes welcome #WorldGaelicWeek – the first since Gaelic gained official status.
The Scottish Government is supporting Gaelic's continued growth with an extra £1.8 million in the draft Scottish Budget.
“An t-Eilean’s success demonstrates there is a global appetite for high-quality Gaelic content. The programme has brought Gaelic into living rooms around the world and this funding will ensure the communities and talent behind that success continue to flourish.”
Sorcha Groundsell, who will return in series two of An t-Eilean in the lead role of Detective Sergeant Kat Crichton, said: ‘’I’m so pleased that An t-Eilean has been recommissioned for a second season.
“It was a wonderful and deeply fulfilling experience to be a part of season one and I have every faith the team will build on the work they did and that they will take the show to new heights and even broader audiences.
“It’s so important that we continue to platform Gàidhlig and to provide further opportunities for Gael creatives so that we can reinforce the language as a vital and vibrant force on the global cultural stage. I’m looking forward to picking up Kat’s journey and seeing where the show takes her in this next series!’’
The First Minister is expected to unveil the Scottish Government’s Islands Plan in Shetland later today. The plan includes measures to support Gaelic’s growth in island communities where it is traditionally spoken.
More than 280 tonnes of used fishing nets will be sent from Scotland to Ukraine to help the nation defend itself against deadly Russian drone attacks.
The used salmon farm nets had been stored ready for recycling but will now be sent to Ukraine following a request from its government.
Vital infrastructure and strategic locations in Eastern Ukraine will be protected as the nets are draped overhead catching exploding drones.
External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson said: “As we approach the fourth anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine the Scottish Government is committed to aiding Ukraine’s defence and this donation demonstrates that our support is unwavering.
“The Ukrainian Minister for the Development of Communities made a direct request for Scotland to supply used fishing nets, which would be repurposed to provide anti-drone netting on public roads in Eastern Ukraine.
“We identified 228 old salmon farm nets, weighing 280 tonnes, sitting in storage awaiting disposal. They work by trapping the drone propellers, stopping them reaching their target.
“Drone attacks are a near daily occurrence. They have been responsible for many deaths and casualties as well as causing huge devastation across Ukraine. This will help counter some of these deadly attacks.”
Five things stroke professionals believe can improve stroke care in Scotland to save lives and livelihoods
The Stroke Association and Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) have today (23 February) revealed a bid to persuade political parties vying for power in May’s Scottish election to make stroke a priority for the next government.
Stroke is a huge health issue in Scotland. More than 10,000 Scottish residents have a stroke every year1 with about 150,000 people currently living in Scotland with the effects of the condition2. It’s the country’s third biggest killer3 and the leading cause of complex adult disability4, which can leave survivors unable to see, speak, move or even swallow.
Scotland is also being left behind by its UK counterparts on stroke. It has the highest incidence of stroke of the four UK nations and the largest proportion of people living with a disability because of stroke5.
More than 200 health professionals and six major health bodies – the British and Irish Association of Stroke Physicians, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, the Scottish Stroke Nurses Forum, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow – are proposing radical change.
The Stroke Association and CHSS are supporting stroke professionals in communicating five cost-effective, practical actions to politicians. These are changes developed by doctors, nurses and allied health professionals themselves. They are:
• Deliver an equitable 24/7 national thrombectomy service. Thrombectomy saves brains and money. It is a standard medical procedure in many countries and should no longer be a postcode lottery in Scotland.
• Increase inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation capacity. Front-loading spending on inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation will save money and promote recovery from stroke by reducing the need for ongoing support.
• Give acute stroke care the same hospital status as other specialist units. Stroke is designated a clinical priority and needs the same protection for beds, staff and other resources that is afforded to coronary care or trauma units.
• Develop an innovative long-term stroke specific workforce recruitment and retention plan. Measures to address the shortfall in stroke staff will include a biggerprofile for stroke in education syllabuses and increased opportunities for careerprogression.
• Ongoing failure to meet stroke standards to be escalated to Health Improvement Scotland. This will make the auditing process more robust and ensure NHS boardsplace greater emphasis on meeting the needs of stroke patients.
John Watson, Associate Director for the Stroke Association in Scotland, said:“Successive Scottish governments have not invested in stroke treatment and care to anything like the level it needs, and it’s taking a terrible toll on lives, livelihoods and the NHS.
“A national thrombectomy service has been promised for years, but progress remains glacially slow. According to the latest figures, less than one in five Scots who needed this life-changing procedure, got it. It can be the difference between resuming life as normal and living with life-limiting disability.
“The stroke community’s other proposals not only put the best interests of patients at heart, but they have also thought about whole hospital systems and the immense pressure on the NHS and social care. Sorting stroke can help address the NHS crisis, not least in reducing the need for ongoing support for stroke survivors.”
Chief Operating Officer at Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland, Allan Cowie, said:“Stroke is devastating lives in every community in Scotland – this is impossible to ignore for any successive government. We are seeing more people of working age having strokes, and yet the standard of care they receive depends far too much on where they live and when they arrive at hospital. That is simply unacceptable.
“When only around half of patients receive the basic stroke care bundle that we know leads to better outcomes, and when life-changing procedures like thrombectomy are available to so few, it’s clear that Scotland is still failing people at the moments they need the NHS most.
“The five actions put forward by stroke professionals are practical, evidence-based and affordable – and they would transform the future for thousands of people every year. Investing in stroke care is not only the right thing to do for patients and families, it is one of the smartest ways we can relieve pressure on the NHS and social care.
“Scotland can and must do better. We are calling on all political parties to grasp this moment and commit to delivering stroke as a national priority. Lives, livelihoods and recovery depend on it.”
The latest Scottish Stroke Statistics published in January once again laid out the extent of stroke in Scotland. It devastates lives in all corners of society including increasing incidence of strokes in people of working age (under 65s) over the last 10 years6.
According to the Scottish Stroke Improvement Programme annual report 2025 just 52.9% of stroke patients received the stroke care bundle*, which is associated with better patient outcomesagainst a national quality standard of 80%. In 2019 it was 64%.7 The British and Irish Association of Stroke Physicians (BIASP), the professional body representing stroke physicians across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, added:“We are fully supportive of addressing inequalities in patient access and outcomes across all five nations.
“The situation in Scotland is worrying. Standards of stroke treatment and care are sliding, so we have joined forces with other stroke professionals in Scotland to outline what we believe are affordable, deliverable solutions to an increasingly frustrating position.
“For example, thrombectomy is one of the most effective interventions in modern medicine, as it significantly reduces the risk of long-term disability when delivered promptly. Yet Scotland’s specialist thrombectomy units are hampered by limited operating hours, with only one currently performing the procedure seven days a week.
“As stroke doctors, this puts us in a very difficult position. We want every patient who should have a thrombectomy to have access to this life-changing treatment, but we are thwarted by lack of resources, whether human or material.
“We call on the Scottish Government to take action and support us in ensuring thrombectomy is available for all who need it.”
More than 200 doctors, nurses and allied health professionals have signed the Stroke Association and CHSS’s Scottish election campaign call to make their views known to political parties developing their manifestos for May. It is hoped that parties taking stroke seriously will commit to delivering stroke as a priority.
*The stroke care bundle comprises the prompt delivery of a) admission to a stroke unit; b) brain scanning; c) screening for swallow problems; d) administering aspirin (unless contraindicated).
About Thrombectomy
Thrombectomy is a treatment for ischaemic stroke, which removes large arterial blood clots from the brain and reduces the risk of patients having long-term disability such as paralysis, blindness and communication problems. About 1 in 10 peoplewith stroke could benefit from thrombectomy.8
It should be carried out on eligible patients as soon as possible after onset – and ideally within six hours9.
The thrombectomy rate in Scotland is less than half what it is in the rest of the UK – only 2.2% of the total number of patients who had an ischaemic stroke compared to 4.4% for the UK. In Scotland in 2024 this equated to 212 people10 of the more than 1,000 patients who should have had the procedure.
Case study – Tracey Donaldson
Tracey Donaldson, 56, from Glasgow credits thrombectomy for letting her have the retirement she’s worked hard for. Tracey had a stroke on Wednesday, 19th February 2025 – she thinks about 8.45am.
Tracey served as a school secretary for 19 years, taking early retirement in December last year and having previously worked in banking for 20 years.
Rewind to 19th February 2025 and a work colleague noticed Tracey was showing the classic signs of a stroke – her left-side collapsed and she was struggling to speak. School first aiders rushed to the scene and called an ambulance.
She arrived at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QUEH) at about 10:30am and doctors quickly got to work. She had a CT scan confirming a significant ischemic stroke and was promptly prepared for a thrombectomy, she thinks about two hours after her stroke.
A matter of hours later, Tracey showed nurses that she could walk and her speech had returned.
Incredibly, Tracey passed all the tests set by physiotherapists to check her mobility and was discharged from hospital at 4.30pm on Friday, 21st February.
She said: “I was very tired that first week at home. I had lots of visitors, and it was quite overwhelming at times. But otherwise, it was like I hadn’t had a stroke.”
True to form, Tracey quickly resumed her busy life.
She adds: “I went along to a stroke support group when I retired. Everyone was exceptionally welcoming, but I felt like an imposter as I had no visible effects of the stroke, noting that others around me had not been as fortunate. So, I focused on getting back to normal my way – spending time with family and friends and trying new experiences.”
Tracey concludes: “I strongly believe the recovery from my stroke has been miraculous due to having a thrombectomy quickly. I am forever grateful to the QEUH doctors for saving my life and letting me live life to the full.”
Tracey returned to work in April ‘25, but anxiety brought on by the stroke prompted her to prioritise her health and take early retirement eight months later.
POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a crash at Fort Kinnaird.
Around 11.30am on Thursday, 12 February, 2026, there was a collision involving a pedestrian and people carrier style taxi in the carpark of Fort Kinnaird Retail Park.
The pedestrian, a 69-year-old man, was assisted by the driver of the vehicle and a member of the public at the scene. He later attended hospital for treatment.
The incident was reported to police on Wednesday, 18 February, and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.
Sergeant Barry Sommerville said: “I’m appealing for the driver of the vehicle to come forward. They did stop at the scene and assisted the pedestrian and will likely be unaware of the subsequent police involvement.
“I’d also ask the member of the public who helped the man to contact us, as they may have information which could assist our investigation.
“Anyone else who saw what happened or has relevant dash-cam footage is urged to call 101 quoting reference 1925 of 18 February.”
Directed by Dominic Hill, Artistic Director of the Citizens Theatre, 1984 is a co-production between Citizens Theatre, Dundee Rep Theatre and The Royal Lyceum Edinburgh which previews in Glasgow from 29 August 2026 and receives its world premiere on 3 September 2026 before touring to Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
The Citizens Theatre commissioned this new adaptation from writer Chris Hannan as part of its reopening programme. In recent times, 1984 has surged back up international bestseller lists, as readers return to Orwell’s stark warning about truth, power and control in today’s unsettling world politics.
Playwright Chris Hannan is one of Scotland’s leading writers. He has adapted major literary classics, including Crime and Punishment (for Citizens Theatre in 2013) and The Iliad.
This new stage adaptation of 1984 stays true to Orwell’s dystopian novel about a tightly controlled society built on surveillance, fear and the manipulation of truth – while exploring the love affair between Winston and Julia that catapults them into rebellion.
One of the defining novels of the 20th century, 1984’s Scottish connections are striking. Written largely on the Scottish island of Jura and completed while he was seriously ill in hospitals and sanatoria, George Orwell spent crucial periods in Scotland while finishing the book – including time at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride as his health deteriorated.
The physical strain he was under, and the bleak post-war climate in which he was writing, echo through the novel’s stark and unsettling world.
Director,Dominic Hill said: “I am thrilled to be working once again with Chris Hannan. His version of Crime and Punishment for the Citz proved once again that he is one of Scotland’s finest playwrights but also has a great talent at making works of prose feel like immediate, living drama for the stage.
“His new adaptation of Orwell’s chilling classic is equally brilliant. We live in a world that is increasingly called ‘Orwellian’; Chris’s adaptation takes us back to the original story – an appeal for truth, love and moral courage within a system designed to crush. It is a classic story, told for our times, and I can’t wait for audiences across Scotland to experience it later this year.”
Opening in Glasgow in August 2026, it will mark one year since the Citz returned to its home in the Gorbals, following a major redevelopment of the building.
Further creative and cast credits to be announced.
On sale dates are as follows:
Citizens Theatre, Glasgow
Presale to Theatre Pass Members and Supporters on Wednesday 25 February
Public on sale on Wednesday 4 March
Dundee Rep Theatre, Dundee
Friends priority on sale on Wednesday 25 February Public on sale on Friday 27 February
Step inside the mind and brush strokes of much-loved Scottish artist Joan Eardley with a fresh insight into her powerful and expressive paintings in a new, free, two-room exhibition at the National Galleries of Scotland.
Taking over the ground floor of National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two from April Joan Eardley: The Nature of Painting will explore the artist’s vibrant artworks from a whole new perspective. Consisting solely of works from Scotland’s national collection, this exhibition will bring together over 30 of Joan Eardley’s artwworks, alongside some of the most notable names in the art world including Claude Monet, John Constable, Bet Low, William McTaggart, Jean Dubuffet and Antoni Tàpies. It will offer a unique opportunity to look at how the beloved Scottish artist engaged with the world and artists around her.
Joan Eardley: The Nature of Painting will feature 14 of Eardley’s oil paintings from the Scottish national collection alongside a selection of her works on paper and archival materials. Immerse yourself in Eardley’s iconic views of coastal village Catterline, discover never-before-seen objects from her studio in Glasgow and come face to face with the Glaswegian children who inspired many of her works.
The Nature of Painting follows previous National Galleries of Scotland exhibitions dedicated to Eardly’s artwork including Joan Eardley: A Sense of Place at Modern Two in 2017 and Joan Eardley & Catterline at Modern One in 2022.
This new exhibition for 2026 will present a fresh perspective on her artistic practice, inviting visitors to view her paintings amidst a variety of artists and movements, while exploring the possibilities of influence and interest.
Key works on display in Joan Eardley: The Nature of Painting will include the glimmering Summer Fields (about 1961) in which a bright golden cornfield dominates a grey Catterline sky.
This painting comes to life in more ways than one, through both Eardley’s expressive brushstrokes and the inclusion of real blades of grass and wheat from the environment around her, giving insight into her artistic methods.
Several other scenes of Catterline will also be displayed including the atmospheric Catterline in Winter (1963) and Hedgerow with Grasses and Flowers (1962-1963), inspired by the wildflower fields behind Eardley’s cottage.
Visitors will also meet sisters Anne and Pat Samson, immortalised in childhood through Children and Chalked Wall 3 (1962-1963). In this portrait, Eardley’s signature bold style captures the essence of Anne and Pat’s endearing smiles, as they huddle together in a moment of sisterly affection.
The girls are surrounded by a collage of newspapers and painted graffiti, as well as silver and gold papers, presumed to be sweet wrappers. This portrait, displayed in the exhibition along with others including Street Kids (1949-1951), tells the stories of real Glasgow children who lived close to Eardley’s studio, and captures their friendliness and community spirit which Eardley admired.
Born in West Sussex in 1921, Eardley moved to Glasgow with her family during the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. She studied at Glasgow School of Art and Hospitalfield House where she was taught by Scottish artists including Hugh Adam Crawford and James Cowie. It was during this time that she began to shape her preference for painting everyday subjects. Eardley rented a studio in the centre of Glasgow in 1948, and a few years later moved to Townhead, where the local children became her artistic subjects.
In 1954, she bought a cottage in the small fishing village of Catterline, south of Aberdeen. Catterline’s coastal charm and dramatic seascapes formed the subject of many of Eardley’s paintings, providing the perfect setting for her expressive artwork to flourish. After her untimely passing from cancer in 1963, Eardley’s ashes were scattered on the beach at Catterline, creating a lasting bond between the artist and the place which inspired her.
A range of archival and photographic materials from the Scottish national collection will also be displayed in Modern Two’s Keiller Library.
Donated to the National Galleries of Scotland in 1987 by Eardley’s sister Patricia, the artist’s archive contains a range of interviews, photographs and personal contents from her studio. This display will give a glimpse into the artist’s world, painting a picture of the woman behind the artwork, as well as giving context to what she admired most in the work of others.
For the very first time, visitor favourite from the Scottish national collection Grainstacks: Snow Effect (1891) by Claude Monet will go on display amongst Eardley’s artwork. A key founder of the Impressionist movement, Monet was known for finding his source of inspiration in the outdoors, bringing nature to life through abstract brushstrokes and textures, much like Eardley’s paintings of the Catterline landscape.
The gentle gold light across frosty stacks of grain and bold use of paint echoes elements Eardley used in Summer Fields. Bringing these artworks together especially for this exhibition highlights artistic similarities spanning generations, whether intentional or not.
Kerry Gledhill, Senior Librarian and Lead Curator of Joan Eardley: The Nature of Painting at the National Galleries of Scotlandsaid: “Joan Eardley was an artist so completely driven to paint the truth of what she saw around her that she pushed her medium to its very limits.
“She was drawn to subjects which tap into a common humanity, a connection to nature or a sense of community and kinship. Like all great artists, her paintings speak to us across the intervening decades.
“The opportunity to show Eardley’s work alongside that of Constable, Monet and Tàpies, to name just a few, gives us a unique insight into the nature of painting, experimentation and creativity.”
Joan Eardley: The Nature of Painting is a free National Galleries of Scotland exhibition opening in the lower galleries of Modern Two on Thursday 2 April 2026.
Plans to extend 20mph speed limits across more UK roads are facing resistance from drivers, new research reveals.
A recent survey by Quotezone.co.uk found that 66% of respondents said they were not in favour of reducing key 30mph roads to 20mph.
The study of 1,000 British adults, showed over two-thirds (67%) think 20mph roads are simply too slow.
The findings come amid ongoing discussions across parts of the UK about expanding 20mph zones, hoping to improve road safety and reduce accidents in urban areas.
Last month, the government launched a new road safety strategy, which aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035.
The strategy revealed there will be a new edition of the best practice guidance on setting local speed limits, which suggests there may be significant changes to the 30mph default limit on urban roads.
Wales is leading the way in terms of adopting lower speed limits and has already implemented a default 20mph rule on residential and built-up roads.
Scotland and England are also following suit, with many regions already rolling out a 20mph speed limit in urban areas.
London has seen significant progress, with lower speed limits in place on more than half of urban roads, while the North West is close behind, with over 45% now set at 20mph.
While public opinion may be divided on the approach, in the first year of the new 20mph limit, Wales saw approximately 100 fewer people killed or seriously injured, and research shows that even an average speed reduction of just 1mph can cut crash frequency by 5%.
As more roads move to lower limits, drivers are being encouraged to stay alert to changing signage and adjust their driving accordingly.
Sticking to the indicated limits ensures motorists avoid fines, penalty points and potential increases to their insurance premiums.
Greg Wilson, car insurance expert and CEO at Quotezone.co.uk said: “With changes to speed limits continuing to be discussed across the UK, our research suggests many motorists remain unconvinced about reducing key 30mph roads to 20mph, with concerns likely centred around journey times and practicality.
“That being said, evidence from Wales, for example, demonstrates that lower limits can have a positive impact on road safety, with data from the first year of implementation showing fewer people killed or seriously injured.
“Ultimately, decisions around speed limits sit with local authorities, and they must balance public sentiment with safety outcomes, congestion, and the needs of different road users when assessing what’s appropriate for their communities.
“With lower limits appearing on more roads, it’s important drivers watch for signage and adapt their speed to make sure they stay safe and avoid fines.
“From an insurance perspective, any measure that successfully reduces collisions is positive news for premium prices. Fewer accidents could lead to fewer claims, and over time that has the potential to ease the pressure on car insurance costs.”
As a price comparison site, Quotezone helps drivers compare and find savings on all sorts of motoring products, such as van, fleet and car insurance.
This National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (23 February to 2 March), I’d like to remind children and young people who are struggling with disordered eating that you’re not alone.
I was a confident and happy child, but from a young age I was surrounded by diet culture that made me believe my body should be smaller. What began as insecurity when I was five, slowly developed into years of disordered eating and anorexia. At times, I felt consumed by food, calories, and the pressure to shrink myself. Even when I seemed ‘fine’, I was struggling more than anyone realised.
If you’re reading this and recognise yourself, please know support is available. An eating disorder is not your fault, and you deserve help and compassion. Reaching out for help can feel frightening – I remember that feeling well – but it’s also the first step towards getting better.
Talk to someone you trust, whether that’s a friend, teacher, parent or GP. And if speaking to someone you know feels too difficult, you can contact the NSPCC’s Childline service anonymously by calling 0800 1111 or visit: www.childline.org.uk.
You don’t need to have the right words or even know exactly what’s wrong – they will listen, without judgement, and help you find a way forward.
No one should face an eating disorder alone. Reaching out for support is an act of real courage, and the first step towards recovery.
With all my best wishes, Lauren* (age 24) from Scotland
NSPCC Lived Experience Advocate
*Lauren is not her real name – she requested that we protect her identity
Rural communities continue to face barriers that limit access to essential services, including healthcare, childcare, specialist support, legal advice and public transport, according to a new report from Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.
A shortage of affordable housing and adequate infrastructure, combined with a higher than average cost of living, were also found to pose significant challenges to the sustainability of rural communities.
The Committee’s report calls for targeted action to be taken to ensure that these communities are able to fully access their rights. The Committee want to see the Scottish Government recognise the distinct needs of different rural areas, consider rural populations throughout all stages of policymaking, and factor the findings of the report into a future Scottish Human Rights Bill.
While the Scottish Government acknowledged the issues raised during the Committee’s inquiry and highlighted the work it is doing, the Committee’s report says that this has yet to translate into sufficient improvements in the lives of people living in rural areas.
The report backs calls for the Government to carry out multi-year engagement with, and investment in, community-led organisations. The potential of these organisations, who are often best placed to understand local need and design effective solutions, appears to the Committee not to be currently being used to its full potential.
The report also highlights concerns over rural housing shortages. The shortage undermines workforce recruitment, drives depopulation and restricts the ability of young people to remain in their communities. It calls on the Government to provide an update on what it is doing to improve the situation.
The Committee also heard about barriers to health that were created by distance and travel costs. In its report it calls for urgent action to be taken to address the centralisation of essential health services, such as those relating to maternity in regions such as the Highlands.
Karen Adam MSP, Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, said:“Rural communities deserve equitable access to services, opportunities and rights and often face greater financial challenges than urban areas of Scotland.
“During this inquiry rural people clearly told us that they cannot access essential services, including healthcare, childcare, specialist support, legal advice and public transport.
“We want to see the Scottish Government build on its work to date by undertaking targeted action to deliver better access to services and combat the rural premium.”
