Unpaid carers, disabled people and people with lived experience of social care will have a say on local services after Scottish Parliament regulations come into force.
Social Care Minister Tom Arthur tabled an order giving service users and third sector organisations a vote during integration joint board decision making. This ensures their perspectives carry equal weight in shaping decisions about services, such as care in the community to enable people with disabilities or long term conditions to remain at home.
The 31 boards bring together the NHS and local councils with key community and service representatives to oversee planning and delivery of social care and community health services. Until now only members appointed by the NHS health board and local councils can vote.
The draft regulations will come into force in September after the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s scrutiny of the legislation concluded yesterday.
Mr Arthur said: “I am determined to ensure those who access and support community health and social care services have an equal say in making decisions that affect their communities.
“These regulations extend voting rights to unpaid carers, service users and third sector representatives, collectively representing the voice of lived experience. It is only fair that these voices carry equal weight alongside other members – to help ensure local services are funded properly to meet the needs of people.
“People with lived experience provide valuable insight into challenges and opportunities which should be considered during planning. This change will bring decision making closer to the people we all serve. We expect to see more inclusive, collaborative and improved choices as a result.”
SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY FESTIVAL – REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!!!
As many of you know, we run this event on passion, community spirit, and a shoestring but this year the funding challenges have been extreme. So much so that, for the first time, we’re facing the very real possibility that the festival might not be able to go ahead.
To give us the best chance of keeping it alive, we’ve introduced a tiered cost for stalls, ranging from a heavily discounted £80 up to £250 depending on the size of your organisation.
This structure lets smaller groups stay involved while asking those with more resources to chip in a little extra to support the wider community.
If you’re taking a trading or community stall, we’re encouraging everyone who can to select the £150 payment. That contribution genuinely makes a difference to whether the festival can run. But if £80 is what’s manageable for you, please know that it’s still hugely appreciated, your presence matters just as much.
We’re doing everything we can to protect this festival and the space it creates for local makers, groups, and neighbours.
Your support, in whatever form you can offer it, means the world.
Thank you for sticking with us and for being part of what makes this festival special.
Community Councils, have you signed up for our next free webinar yet?
On 25th February at 6pm we welcome Scottish Government Local Governance Review team who will be providing an update on Democracy Matters policy development.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions on the process and next steps.
Community Councils can register for this free event using the link below:
Local people are invited to join their neighbourhood boards to have a say in shaping their areas over the next decade as part of the Pride in Place programme
Communities to receive a jump start to the Pride in Place programme with an initial £150,000 to 169 communities to begin delivering the change they want to see.
Local people invited to join their new Neighbourhood Board and take control of up to £20m of funding and support to deliver a decade of change in their neighbourhoods.
This comes as Phase One areas get started on their ambitious regeneration plans to transform their neighbourhoods.
People across the country are being urged to sign up to new Neighbourhood Boards – set up as part of the Pride in Place programme – to decide how £20m of new funding is spent in their communities over the next decade.
Pride in Place will empower neighbourhoods to make the changes they need in their communities to restore local pride and reinvigorate their areas, based entirely on local voices and priorities.
From revitalising their high street to setting up a community sports league, or boosting healthy eating with community cooking classes, guidance published today sets out a range of potential project ideas and provides communities with the toolkit to choose the projects that are right for them and suit their local needs and ambitions.
Alongside this, each of the 169 areas in receipt of Phase Two Pride in Place funding will now receive £150,000 of their funding early in the new year to enable them to get the ball rolling sooner on rebuilding their local communities, setting up their Boards and engaging the community on plans for the next decade.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Whether it’s breathing new life into a high street, setting up a local sports league, or saving the pub at the heart of your community – Pride in Place is about putting power back where it belongs: in the hands of local people.
“We’re backing the local residents who step forward, join their Neighbourhood Boards, and help shape a decade of transformation.
“This isn’t about short-term fixes – it’s about lasting change that restores pride, strengthens communities and creates opportunities for everyone.”
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, said: This is about bringing lasting change to people’s communities after years of decline.
“So today we’re calling on people up and down the country to get involved in bringing back pride to their community and country.”
Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities, Miatta Fahnbulleh, said: “Putting local people at the centre of the Pride in Place Programme is what really puts the value behind this money.
“Change and investment means nothing unless local people have their voices heard and their priorities met, so we are putting the residents that know there area best in the driving seat.”
Crucially, the new guidance also outlines that Neighbourhood Boards will have to prove they have listened to and have the backing of residents and their local community to receive all their funding, ensuring that community voices sit at the heart of the decisions made about the future of their areas.
Any resident with big ideas and a desire to transform their community can get involved, with boards being chaired by an independent member of the community, chosen for their ambition and potential to lead their community.
Local authorities and MPs in Pride in Place neighbourhoods will now begin to work with their communities to pick the right chair to take the reins of their Neighbourhood Board, lead on engagement with the community, and drive forward the changes they want to see.
Those interested in getting involved should contact their local MP or Local Authority.
We should decide what happens in West Pilton/West Granton come along to learn more.
This event is being put on by myself (Jessica Fenn) and Chris Cullen – we live here, we aren’t an outside organisation, and we want other locals to join us
Ian Murray, MP for Edinburgh South, has called on the City of Edinburgh Council in a formal open letter today to take urgent steps to secure the future of Edinburgh South Community Football Club (ESCFC), one of Scotland’s biggest and most successful community clubs.
ESCFC, has over 1,000 players across 75 teams and more than 200 volunteers, collectively contributing over 40,000 hours of unpaid time, is facing severe challenges due to a shortage of pitches and lack of long-term security over its facilities. Every week, 5–10 children are being turned away, while six full teams, around 120 young people, risk having nowhere to train from September.
Despite more than seven years of talks with the Council, the club still does not have the land security or access to facilities it needs. Edinburgh Leisure has not responded since March regarding long-term Astro pitch availability, and without action the club has missed out on major investment opportunities, such as the £8.6m Scottish FA Pitching In fund.
The club’s impact stretches far beyond football, with initiatives including:
Free after school club and holiday camps (averaging 600 free places weekly across the year)
Free mental health counselling and physiotherapy
Racism and disability awareness training
Free use of club facilities for local schools
Fee waivers and discounts for families in need
Completely free Soccer School every Saturday for up to 120 children aged 5-8
ESCFC is a Platinum-level accredited club, the highest recognition awarded by the SFA, and has been nominated for National Community Club of the Year.
Ian Murray MP said: ““Edinburgh South CFC is a shining example of everything that is good about grassroots football. The scale of the club’s impact from free school holiday places to counselling, mentoring, and a boot exchange programme is extraordinary.
“But that success is now under threat. It is simply unsustainable for children to be turned away week after week because of a lack of facilities and security, and miss out on repeated funding rounds.
“This has gone on far too long. The Council must now step up, work with the club, and deliver the long-term security and pitches it desperately needs.”
Joe Sneddon, Chair of Edinburgh South CFC, said: “Our ethos has always been simple: if you want to play, you play.Thanks to our incredible volunteers we’ve been able to make that a reality for decades, but the lack of facilities and long-term backing is now putting that at risk. We don’t want to turn children away, yet that’s exactly what is happening.
“The Council cannot allow a club of this standing, delivering this scale of community benefit, to be held back by lack of facilities and short-term agreements. The time for warm words is over, we need action to allow us to continue delivering for our communities.”
Ian Murray has written formally to the Council setting out a series of practical steps, including a new Astroturf pitch at Inch Park, guaranteed access to the new Liberton High School Astro, and long-term leases at key facilities across South Edinburgh.
Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby has partnered with Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of Rugby to launch the Wooden Spoon GBWR Junior Regional Academies, an initiative that will expand inclusive playing and training opportunities for juniors to engage with wheelchair rugby at both grassroots and performance levels.
Wooden Spoon has a long-standing commitment to supporting children and young people with disabilities or facing disadvantage, through the power of rugby. This partnership with GBWR is a natural extension of that mission; creating a dynamic, inclusive, and empowering space for young people with disabilities to thrive.
Building Tomorrow’s Champions: Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby Junior Regional Academies
Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) is proud to announce a landmark partnership with Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby to launch the Wooden Spoon GBWR Junior Regional Academies; a transformative initiative set to redefine the landscape of junior wheelchair rugby across the UK.
This exciting collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the sport’s development, creating a structured and inclusive pathway for young athletes and expanding opportunities for juniors to engage with wheelchair rugby at both grassroots and performance levels.
A Game-Changer for Junior Wheelchair Rugby
The new academies will provide increased playing and training opportunities for junior athletes in both wheelchair rugby (Paralympic discipline) and Wheelchair Rugby fives, while also welcoming young people who are not currently affiliated with local clubs. Wooden Spoon’s sponsorship is instrumental in supporting this growth, helping to build a vibrant and sustainable junior community.
Why Junior Academies Matter
Many junior players currently train within senior clubs under “Safe to Play” rules. While this has enabled participation, it often limits peer-to-peer engagement. The new academies will offer a dedicated space for juniors to connect, compete, and grow alongside athletes their own age; fostering personal development, confidence, and a shared passion for the sport.
Aligned with GBWR’s Performance Pathway
The academies will serve as the first step in GBWR’s performance pathway, offering consistent, high-quality coaching and a clear route for talented young athletes to progress. This structured environment is designed to nurture the next generation of Paralympians.
Key Pillars of the Junior Academies
Talent Development: A structured environment aligned with GBWR’s talent pathway.
Inclusivity: Open to all junior players, including wheelchair ruby fives athletes.
Accessibility: Welcoming juniors regardless of club affiliation.
Competition: Regional teams will compete in tournaments, starting with the inaugural Junior Tournament on Saturday, 7th February 2026.
Academy Identity: Each academy will choose its name and design bespoke kit.
Geographic Boundaries: Players will join their nearest academy, with flexibility for border regions.
Regularity: A minimum of five sessions per year, complementing club commitments.
Junior Voice: Each academy will elect a player representative to a Junior Panel.
Coaching Excellence: Led by passionate GBWR club coaches, supported with CPD and a structured syllabus.
Launch Details
The first academy sessions will take place on the weekend of Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th October 2025, with initial locations in:
North – Galashiels (Coaches: Adam Robson & Aaron Kilpatrick) Midlands – Corby (Coaches: Jamie Higgins & Kascie Higgins) London & South – Reading (Coaches: Sally Sycha & Omar Foster) Wales – Location TBC (Coaches: Byron White & Dominic Evans)
Following the launch, regular sessions will be held in November, January, and March, leading up to the Junior Tournament in February 2026.
Contact Jamie Higgins to find out more information or register your child jamie.higgins@gbwr.org.uk
Voices from the Community
Jason Brisbane, GBWR CEO, said:“This partnership with Wooden Spoon is a powerful step forward in our mission to grow the sport from the ground up.
“Junior athletes deserve a space where they can thrive, connect and dream big. These academies will be the launchpad for future Paralympians and community leaders.”
Sarah Webb, Wooden Spoon CEO, said: “Every child deserves the joy, confidence, and sense of belonging that sport brings.
“That’s why this partnership is so important, it opens the door for more young people to discover wheelchair rugby, to fulfil their dream of representing their country at the Paralympics, and to build lifelong friendships along the way.
“Together, we’re not just creating opportunities to play; we’re building a future where every child with a disability can see themselves as an athlete”
Jamie Higgins, Junior Programme Development Officer and Midlands Coach, added: “These academies will not only provide consistent, high-quality coaching through links with the Talent pathway, but also create a sense of community and competition among young players.
“We are confident this will lead to increased participation and pave the way for future wheelchair rugby stars.”
A 9-year-old junior player from the North Academy shared: “I can’t wait to play with other kids like me!
“It’s gonna be so fun making new friends and learning new stuff together.”
A Shared Mission for Inclusion and Empowerment
Wooden Spoon has a long-standing commitment to supporting children and young people with disabilities or facing disadvantage, through the power of rugby. This partnership with GBWR is a natural extension of that mission; creating a dynamic, inclusive, and empowering space for young people with disabilities to thrive.
🔗 Learn more about Wooden Spoon at woodenspoon.org.uk
come along to learn more.
