One Parent Families Scotland and Social Security Scotland link-up
Thousands of single parents are being offered a helping hand on National Single Parents Day (21 March), thanks to a link-up between One Parent Families Scotland and Social Security Scotland.
While 25% of children in Scotland live in poverty, the figure is much higher, 40%, for children in single parent families. A quarter of all the families with dependent children are single parent households.
Working together as part of One Parent Families Scotland’s “Single Parent Community” Campaign, both organisations are working to highlight the support that is available to eligible parents and carers. including Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Foods and Best Start Grant.
Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Foods and the Best Start Grant aim to give children the best start in life. They offer financial support to families, both in and out of work, who receive certain benefits and tax credits.
Best Start Grant consists of three payments designed to provide support at key stages in a child’s life: Pregnancy and Baby Payment, Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment.
Scottish Child Payment, unique to Scotland, is payable to eligible families in receipt of Universal Credit or certain other qualifying reserved benefits, for children aged under-16. Unlike the UK Government there is no limit to the number of children a family can receive the payment for
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “All parents know that bringing up children can be hard work – and doing so as a single parent household can be even more so. So I’m proud of the support that the Scottish Government offers single parent families.
“A report from the Fraser of Allander Institute, about health inequalities in Scotland, highlighted that single parents are much more likely to experience food insecurity than other household types. In stark terms food insecurity is when a person doesn’t have reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious, healthy food.
“That is why the support the Scottish Government provides is so crucial, especially for single parent families. Since it was introduced in August 2019, £65.6million has been paid in Best Start Foods to provide exactly the nutritious, healthy food children need.
“And over £1 billion worth of Scottish Child payments have been issued by 31 December 2024; putting money directly into the pockets of those families who need it most.”
Chief Executive of OPFS, Satwat Rehman said: “For too many single parents, the challenge of making ends meet is a daily struggle.
“With 38% of children in single parent families living in poverty, financial support like Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Grants can be life-changing.
These payments put money directly into the hands of families who need it most, helping to ease the pressure of rising costs and ensuring children have the essentials they deserve.
“One Parent Families Scotland is proud to work alongside Social Security Scotland to make sure single parents know about and can access the support they are entitled to.
Case Study
Sarah, a single mum of two, had been struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living. Every week, she worried about how she would stretch her budget to cover food, bills, and other essentials. When she reached out to One Parent Families Scotland Glasgow, she had no idea she was missing out on vital support.
During a benefit check with a One Parent Families Scotland adviser, Sarah discovered she was entitled to the Best Start Foods card—and even more incredibly, it had over £650 in unclaimed credit waiting for her.
“I was completely shocked! I had no idea that money was there. I kept thinking about all the times I had struggled to afford the basics and worried about how I’d manage. If I’d known about this sooner, it could have saved me so much stress. It’s a massive help and has given me some much-needed breathing space.
“This has made such a huge difference to my life. Instead of panicking at the checkout or having to put things back, I can actually do a proper food shop. I can buy the things my kids like and need without feeling guilty or stressed about every penny. It’s lifted such a weight off my shoulders.”
Support from One Parent Families Scotland, has not only allowed Sarah to access the financial support she was entitled to but also to gain peace of mind knowing she has extra help when she needs it.
Carers in full and part-time education could be entitled to over £4,900 a year in financial support from Social Security Scotland.
It is estimated that there are over 30,000 students at college or university in Scotland providing unpaid care for a family member, friend or neighbour. Research from Carers Trust Scotland shows student carers are four times more likely to drop out of their studies with a key reason being financial struggles.
Together, Carer Support Payment and Carer’s Allowance Supplement could provide over £4,900 a year to unpaid carers.
Carer Support Payment replaces Carer’s Allowance in Scotland, which was delivered by the UK’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Unlike its predecessor, Carer Support Payment is available to many student carers in full-time education.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement, only available in Scotland, is paid twice a year to people receiving Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance.
Students aged 16, 17 or 18 may be able to get Young Carer Grant if they aren’t eligible for Carer Support Payment.
Speaking to student carers and staff at Edinburgh College yesterday (Wednesday 19 March), Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “We worked with carers and support organisations in designing Carer Support Payment to ensure it worked better for the people who receive it. Extending Carer Support Payment to more carers in education is an example of doing just that.
“I recognise the challenges many students face juggling their studies with caring responsibilities and hope the increased support available provides additional financial security and helps them to complete their course.”
Anna Vogt, Assistant Principal Student Experience at Edinburgh College said: “We are committed to supporting our student carers to be able to come to Edinburgh College and achieve their educational ambitions.
“We do this by individualising support for carers, engaging with carer organisations in our region and by designing systems that acknowledge our students have responsibilities and communities outside of college.
“Colleges change lives and we are pleased that this new benefit will support more carers to think about becoming a student at any institution across Scotland.”
Josh, a student at Edinburgh College, added: “The support from Edinburgh College has made a real difference to me and is very different from the support I received at school. It has been particularly helpful to be linked up with my local carer’s association – I didn’t know about them. Now I know about this new benefit, I’m going to explore a bit more about it.”
The £4,900 a year calculation is based on a carer receiving a full year entitlement for Carer Support Payment (52 weeks) and Carer’s Allowance Supplement (a payment in June and then in December) at the 2025-26 rates coming into effect from 1 April 2025.
Friends of the Earth: Project Willow “does nothing” for the hundreds of people at Grangemouth set to lose their jobs in the coming months
Plans to secure a long-term industrial future for Grangemouth have been stepped up as a feasibility study sets out nine options for its future.
The plan – which is backed by £25 million from the Scottish Government and £200 million from the UK Government – will support jobs, unlock investment and drive growth.
The £1.5 million feasibility study – published today by EY – follows the recent decision by Petroineos to decommission the oil refinery.
It has identified credible long-term industrial options for the Grangemouth site and explored how Grangemouth can build on its skilled workforce, local expertise and long heritage as a fuel leader in Scotland to forge a new path in low carbon energy production.
The report provides nine proposals likely to attract private investment, including plastics recycling, hydrogen production and other projects that could create up to 800 jobs by 2040.
It follows First Minister John Swinney’s announcement of £25 million to establish a Grangemouth Just Transition Fund, which will support businesses and stakeholders to bring forward investible propositions for the site over the next 12 months, and the Prime Minister’s announcement last month of £200 million to help unlock Grangemouth’s full potential.
First Minister John Swinney said: “We will leave no stone unturned in order to secure the future of the Grangemouth refinery site, and the Scottish Government has already committed or invested a total of £87 million to help do so.
“Grangemouth is home to over a century of industrial expertise and employs thousands of highly skilled workers, placing the site at a massive competitive advantage and creating a unique opportunity for investors.
“Everyone working at Grangemouth’s refinery – and in the wider industrial cluster – is a valued employee with skills that are key to Scotland’s economic and net zero future.
“This report sets out a wide range of viable alternatives for the refinery site, demonstrating that a long term, new industrial future at Grangemouth is achievable.
“We will continue to work closely with the UK Government to realise these opportunities and Scottish Enterprise stands ready to support inward investors looking to progress any of these technologies.”
UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “We committed to leaving no stone unturned in supporting an industrial future for Grangemouth delivering jobs and economic growth.
“This report and the £200 million investment by the UK Government demonstrates that commitment.
“We will build on Grangemouth’s expertise and industrial heritage to attract investors, secure a long-term clean energy future, and deliver on our Plan for Change.”
To kickstart the process, Energy Minister Michael Shanks and Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Gillian Martin co-chaired a meeting yesterday (Wednesday 19 March) of the Grangemouth Future Industry Board with local industry leaders, Falkirk Council, trade bodies and unions.
Scottish Enterprise and the UK Government’s Office for Investment will work with Petroineos to market the proposals set out in Project Willow and seek investor interest.
Alongside launching a search for investors, both governments have also committed to review the Project Willow policy recommendations and understand how government funding can be deployed to mature proposals from the private sector.
The nine projects include:
Waste: hydrothermal upgrading (breaking down hard to recycle plastics), chemical plastics recycling, ABE biorefining (breaking down waste material)
Bio-feedstock: breaking down Scottish timber into bioethanol, anaerobic digestion of bioresources and digestate pyrolysis, HEFA (conversion of Scottish cover crops into sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel using low carbon hydrogen).
Offshore wind conduit: Replacing natural gas with hydrogen, using low carbon hydrogen to produce methanol and convert it to SAF, producing low carbon ammonia from hydrogen for shipping and chemicals.
Just transition campaigners say Project Willow “does nothing” for the hundreds of people at Grangemouth set to lose their jobs in the coming months, however.
The Project Willow feasibility study, published yesterday:
Sets out 9 possible options for the future of Grangemouth, all of which would require private investment
States up to 800 jobs could be created by 2040
Does not include any support for the hundreds of people set to lose their jobs this year
PetroIneos announced the oil refinery will close by summer 2025. The company instead will import refined oil, effectively offshoring the resultant climate pollution.
Friends of the Earth Scotland just transition campaigner Rosie Hampton commented: “It would be disingenuous to suggest the Project Willow report is a plan for workers and the community at Grangemouth – it’s simply a set of suggestions that would ultimately rely on private investment if they were to happen.
“They haven’t been put together with any involvement from trade unions or workers at the refinery, and it does nothing for the hundreds of people set to lose their jobs when the refinery closes this summer.
“As one of Scotland’s most polluting sites, we’ve known for years that Grangemouth needed a transition plan. There was no excuse for politicians not having the right investment, planning and policy in place, because their inaction has paved the way for the swingeing job cuts by Petroineos.
“It’s welcome that options beyond fossil fuels are finally being considered but the scope of the report has left room for dodgy greenwashing projects which are more about maximising profits for companies than protecting the environment.
“It’s not surprising that a report commissioned by Petroineos using public money doesn’t address that company’s failures to plan for a sustainable future and look after its workforce. The core assumption that private money has to be enticed into investing with government subsidy, for which the public get the risk but not the returns, is a real cause for concern.
“The paper speculates it might be possible to create up to 800 jobs by 2040 but that is 15 years too late for the 400 people at the refinery, and many more across the supply chain, facing the loss of their livelihoods in the next few months.
“The two governments must now set out much tighter criteria for any investments and say how it will build on this to create an actual just transition plan that will protect people and the planet.”
Social housing residents in Scotland will be given greater protection against issues of disrepair in their homes such as damp and mould through the introduction of Awaab’s Law.
Awaab’s Law is named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak who died in 2020 after being exposed to mould in his home in Rochdale.
The Scottish Government intends to introduce amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Bill that will broaden Ministers’ powers to impose timeframes on social landlords to investigate disrepair and start repairs, through regulation, following engagement with the sector.
The regulations will build on provisions already in the Bill on strengthening tenants’ rights and Scotland’s existing legal protections for social tenants such as the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and the Right to Repair Scheme.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Introducing timescales and expectations for repairs aims to make sure this never happens to a child or their family ever again.
“Everyone in Scotland deserves the right to live in a warm, safe and secure home, free from disrepair. We already have a strong set of rights and standards that have been improving in Scotland.
“However, these measures will go even further and give power and confidence to tenants that any issues identified and repairs started in a timely manner, so any issues do not have a detrimental impact on their health.
“Our Housing Bill already contains proposals to improve tenants’ rights, and these measures will strengthen those even further to make sure their home is safe for them and their families.”
People struggling with Council Tax arrears will have access to enhanced advice through the expansion of a Citizens Advice Scotland project.
Backed by an additional £2.2 million in Scottish Government funding, the project provides tailored support to affected households and works with local authorities to support good practice in Council Tax debt collection.
The project has already been delivered in nine local authority areas, where it has helped to promote dignified and empathetic approach to debt collection and supported more than 1,600 people with advice on Council Tax issues.
This additional funding will allow the project to be extended across the whole country.
Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: “Any type of debt, including council tax debt, puts pressure on households and can cause real difficulties for family finances. Empathy and dignity must be at the heart of debt support.
“This project has already made a big difference to the way debts are collected in the local authorities where it is in place, including supporting people who cannot access digital technology, making connections with mental health services where needed and encouraging people to seek advice early.
“By helping families manage debts, this project will help us deliver on our driving mission of eradicating child poverty. Other steps we are taking to support this include investing £6.9 billion in social security for the year ahead, £37 million to deliver the expansion of the free school meals programme, and continuing to put more money in families pockets through the Scottish Child Payment.”
Advice and support are available for people experiencing problem debt –
The Scottish Government will host a major investment event in Edinburgh tomorrow (Monday 17th March) aimed at unlocking new private investment in the country’s rapidly growing offshore wind industry.
More than 100 stakeholders, including investors and developers, will attend the Global Offshore Wind Investment Forum, to be hosted by First Minister John Swinney.
The Forum is taking part following a Green Industrial Strategy commitment to raise the profile of Scotland as a destination for capital investment. The Strategy identified offshore wind as one of five priority areas for Scottish Government resources and investment.
The Scottish Government is investing up to £500 million over five years in the Scottish offshore wind supply chain to leverage an expected £1.5 billion of private investment.
Speaking ahead of the Forum, the First Minister said: “The growth and success of Scotland’s offshore wind industry is not only an ambition of my Government, it is a priority for me personally. Delivering on its promise will not only deliver our global climate obligations, but create significant new jobs and economic opportunities.
“History has shown that success stems from choosing the right time and place to capitalise on the next innovation of the era. We have already gained a significant first-mover advantage and laid the groundwork for success.
“Now we are poised to move to the next stage of development and growth and reap the rewards of what we estimate could be a £100 billion market.
“The Global Offshore Wind investment Forum is about “Team Scotland” showcasing the offer that Scotland’s offshore wind sector offers to global investors. We have a compelling story and a clear message that Scotland is open for business.”
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Gillian Martin and Employment and Investment Minister Tom Arthur will also take part in the Forum, which has been delivered by Scottish Enterprise.
The UK Government will be represented and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise and Scottish National Investment Bank will also take part in the event.
North-East project boosts capacity outside Central Belt
First Minister John Swinney has officially opened the first phase of a new residential rehabilitation service in Aberdeenshire, which will increase capacity in the North East of Scotland.
The 27-bed facility, named Rae House and run by Phoenix Futures, will be followed by a second phase which will consist of 53 units of housing and therapeutic community ‘Dayhab’ in Aberdeen City, which in total could provide up to 200 placements a year.
In the following phase, the therapeutic community ‘Dayhab’ model will see people living in separate accommodation coming together for day programmes at a central hub in Aberdeen to help them address their drug and alcohol use.
Speaking at the official opening, First Minister John Swinney said: ““We want every person experiencing harm from drug use to be able access the support they need. Residential rehabilitation is central to that and we have made £100 million available to improve access over the course of the Parliament.
“Following our support for Phoenix Futures’ family service in Saltcoats, this further investment of £11 million into the North East service will help address geographic barriers and provide a welcome increase in residential rehabilitation capacity in Scotland, particularly for areas outside the Central Belt.
“I am pleased that the way we have funded placements has allowed more people in the North East to access this type of treatment quickly.
“A recent report suggests we have achieved our aim of 1,000 people a year receiving public funding for their residential rehabilitation placement by March 2026, but we want to do more and our Additional Placement Fund will support even more people to access rehabilitation.
“Yesterday’s suspected drug death figures showed an 11% decrease for 2024 but they remain too high. There has been some encouraging progress, but we know there is much more to do and that is why, through our National Mission on drugs, we’ll continue to invest in a wide range of evidence-based measures to save lives and reduce harms.”
Phoenix Futures Chief Executive Karen Biggs said: “We are delighted to open Phoenix Futures Scotland’s new residential rehab in Aberdeenshire, bringing much-needed recovery support to the North East. This service ensures people can access life-changing treatment closer to home.
“Thanks to the Scottish Government’s innovative funding model, we’ve overcome financial and systemic barriers that previously limited access to residential rehab.
“By prioritising investment in recovery services, Scotland is setting a precedent for inclusive and effective addiction treatment. This facility will provide a safe, supportive space for people to rebuild their lives.
“We look forward to working with local communities and partners to make recovery accessible to all who need it.”
Acting Minister for Climate Action Dr Alasdair Allan has asked for urgent actions to increase the pace of progress on replacing Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters ahead of the service switching off in June.
RTS meters are out of date and energy suppliers are being encouraged by Ofgem to replace old meters with smart meters. If meters are not replaced before the service is switched off, it could mean disruption to heating and hot water supplies, and possibly higher bills for households and businesses still using the technology.
In response to Ofgem’s consultation on an introduction of new licence conditions to the RTS, Dr Allan reiterated the Scottish Government’s repeated calls for further action to be taken to protect energy consumers as the industry works to replace thousands of meters across the country.
Ofgem’s data from suppliers shows that between October 2024 and January 2025 around 18,700 RTS meters were replaced in Scotland. As of January 2025, there were still 146,302 RTS consumers in Scotland who need to have their meters replaced. Support for RTS energy meters ends on June 30 2025.
Acting Climate Action Minister Alasdair Allan said: “Protecting consumers is the Scottish Government’s highest priority. The approach taken so far has been insufficient, and consumers cannot be blamed for the failure of the energy industry to properly plan for and respond to the RTS switch-off.
“People who rely on the RTS will experience considerable detriment unless meters are replaced by the switch-off date – particularly in rural and island communities.
“There is a real and pressing need for suppliers to be made to explain what their workforce plan is to get engineers to premises. Consideration should also be given to additional enforcement action to reduce no-show instances and to ensure that every household is fitted with a fully functioning meter before the deadline.
“Due to the cost of living crisis, it is also unacceptable to expect consumers to pay for expensive re-wiring as a consequence of the RTS switch-off – they should not be confronted with any additional anxieties. The creation of a fund to support consumers in this position is critical.
“While devolved governments do not hold the levers, the Scottish Government will work with Ofgem, the UK Government and industry to raise awareness of the RTS switch-off.”
Energy infrastructure and regulation is the responsibility of the UK Government.
From: Alasdair Allan MSP, Acting Minister for Climate Action
10 March 2025
Dear Jonathan,
I wrote to the UK Government in January, copying Ofgem, to urge more action to protect consumers as a result of the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) switch-off. Protecting consumers remains the Scottish Government’s highest priority in this matter; however, feedback from consumer organisations and members of the public continues to suggest to me that the approach taken so far has been insufficient, and consumers cannot be blamed for the failure of the energy industry to properly plan for and respond to the RTS switch-off.
As your consultation rightly states, people who rely on the RTS will experience considerable detriment unless meters are replaced by the switch-off date – particularly in rural and island communities.
This makes the timely replacement of RTS meters essential. I made it clear in my letter to Minister Fahnbulleh in January that there should be penalties for suppliers who fail to replace RTS with smart meters (whether fully functional or pre-programmed) by June this year.
I am pleased that, by updating license conditions, Ofgem will be able to take appropriate compliance action against suppliers who fail to do so.
The consultation suggests that changing the regulations to prohibit the supply of electricity to RTS consumers through a metering arrangement which relies on the RTS infrastructure will protect consumers and reduce detriment. It also states that RTS meters should be immediately phased out of the electricity market and associated infrastructure.
While I understand that this is an important regulatory change to allow enforcement action to be taken following the switch-off, I have two concerns regarding its implementation. Firstly, that it may in practice see some consumers removed from supply and properties de-energised, and secondly, that it may see some suppliers offering imperfect metering solutions solely to avoid a breach of license conditions.
I understand from my officials that Ofgem does not expect consumers to be removed from supply as a result of these changes, however I feel duty bound to put on record how dangerous such a situation would be, with large scale contingency planning needed now to prevent serious harm to individuals. Safeguards and protections must be put in place.
For example, where a supplier does not have the capacity or capability to upgrade a meter, consideration must be given to proactively offering a change of supplier to any affected consumers. Consumers cannot be left with no support and many are trying, with no success, to arrange a meter upgrade.
The energy industry must ensure those consumers do not suffer any detriment either before or after the RTS switch-off.
While not included in the published consultation, the Scottish Government continues to believe that there should be penalties applied to the DCC for failing to deliver smart-meter coverage across every part of the country. While 99.3% of the UK is covered by the smart meter communications network, this coverage does not yet apply to some rural and island parts of Scotland, England and Wales.
I understand from Minister Fahnbulleh’s response that the DCC is currently undertaking work to develop technical solutions to overcome the connectivity issues that currently prevent some consumers from accessing the WAN. A solution must be put in place as a matter of urgency.
I believe an update to the DCC license conditions would provide enduring protection to consumers given the pace at which technical solutions are likely to change and the potential for meters to become unfit for purpose through no fault of the consumer.
I was pleased to note that the proposed update ensures suppliers must take all reasonable steps to provide a tariff that leaves the consumer ‘no worse off’ than their existing arrangements as a result of a RTS meter replacement.
However, this issue only arises post-meter upgrade whereas many still wait for engineers who never turn up or are insufficiently trained to upgrade the meter in question. I continue to believe that there is a real and pressing need for suppliers to be made to explain what their workforce plan is in terms of actually getting engineers to premises.
Consideration should be given to additional enforcement action designed to reduce no-show instances and to ensure that every household is fitted with a fully functioning meter before the deadline.
Separately, and while understandably not for the license conditions to cover, it is unacceptable to expect consumers to pay for expensive re-wiring as a consequence of the RTS switch-off. As you know well, too many consumers are already in energy and other consumer debt due to the cost of living crisis – they should not be confronted with any additional anxieties.
The creation of a fund to support consumers in this position is critical. If households are to be upgraded in time, and with no financial detriment, then progress on such a fund is needed urgently.
Finally, I want to repeat my assurance that the Scottish Government remains on hand to work with Ofgem, the UK Government, and industry to raise awareness of the RTS switch-off. However, devolved governments do not hold the levers to make a difference in this area, and policy power reservations mean the people of Scotland must rely on decisions taken by Ofgem and the UK Government.
I hope that these license changes are sufficient to substantially increase the number of properties upgraded, particularly in rural and island areas where the number of RTS meters is disproportionate and where the impact on already high levels of fuel poverty could be significant.
However, frankly, I am not convinced that some suppliers will see the prospect of no longer having to deal with the most remote or complex cases as a spur to action to assist them.
Yours sincerely,
Alasdair Allan
Consumers may use an RTS meter if their property:
has a meter that switches between peak and off-peak tariff rates, such as Economy 7 or Economy 10, or a Total Heating Total Control tariff
has a meter that automatically turns on heating or hot water
uses electric or storage heaters
is located in a no-gas supply area (off-grid), especially in rural areas.
Advice Direct Scotland 0800 028 1456 and Citizens Advice Scotland 0800 028 1456.
Community-led mental health and wellbeing projects are to benefit from £30 million Scottish Government funding over the next two years.
The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults – first launched in 2021 – supports local groups to deliver programmes for adults which build resilience and tackle social isolation, loneliness and mental health inequalities. It is expected the Fund will open to applications this Autumn.
In the first three years around 4,800 grants were made to a wide range of grassroots community projects focused on connecting people and providing peer support through activities such as sport, outdoor activities, and the arts.
The charity, Empower Women for Change, has secured grant awards in all rounds of the Fund to date. This year, the group is using its grant to support lone parents, families with a disabled family member, Minority Ethnic families, and young mothers.
Visiting their office in Glasgow Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said: “I am pleased to meet staff and service users at Empower Women for Change and hear more about the valuable work they do in the community they support. It is inspiring to see first-hand the impact that this funding can have.
“Since the fund was established, we have invested £66 million, reaching a variety of groups supporting those at increased risk of poor mental health and wellbeing – including people facing socio-economic disadvantage, older people and ethnic minority communities.
“I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this further £30 million investment will make to the wellbeing of people and communities across Scotland.”
Empower Women for Change CEO and Founder Asma Abdalla said: “We are delighted and honoured to welcome the Minister Maree Todd to our organisation.The Wellbeing Fund has played a transformative role in improving the lives of our service users of ethnic minority women and girls and our volunteers, members, and staff.
“Through our Inspired Women projects, we have provided vital mental health support, resilience, and community connection, changing lives and strengthening communities. We are looking forward to continuing this work, with support from the Wellbeing Fund.
“We welcome this unique opportunity to share Inspired Women participants’ testimonies, their voices highlight the urgent need for sustained investment in grassroots wellbeing services. Please join us in amplifying their stories and celebrating the power of community-led change.”
Partnership Manager at Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector Sheena Arthur said: “We are delighted that the Scottish Government’s Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is continuing.This fund delivers small grants which make a positive difference and so far, has supported over 900 Third Sector organisations and community groups across Glasgow.
“In increasingly challenging times, the Third Sector plays a crucial role. This fund enables the development of existing projects as well as emerging ideas from the community. It helps to bring people together- contributing to better health and wellbeing of people and families, strengthening social connections and tackling inequality and poverty.”
Further £10 million for Scottish Funding Council to support the university sector
Additional support is to be made available through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to support universities facing financial challenges.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said an additional £10 million will be provided to the SFC to support higher education institutions such as the University of Dundee as they navigate current financial challenges.
It brings total additional support for the sector from the Scottish Government to £25 million, on top of the £1.1 billion in the 2025-26 budget for university teaching and research.
The Scottish Government will convene a range of expertise from across the higher education sector, government, and Dundee City Region to support the University of Dundee while it develops its Financial Recovery Plan. This is in addition to work already underway by the SFC, which engages closely with universities on financial sustainability.
The @ScotGov budget 2025-26 provided £4.3 billion for education and skills, including £186.5 million for councils to increase teacher numbers and £28 million for councils for ASN.
Ms Gilruth said: “The Scottish Government is providing an additional £10 million support package to assist universities such as Dundee with navigating immediate financial challenges. This is on top of the £15 million of extra support previously announced for the sector in February.
“Ministers have held further meetings with the University of Dundee, unions and the Scottish Funding Council this week, building on the extensive engagement that has already taken place with the institution since financial issues came to light.
“Both the Higher Education Minister and I have conveyed our deep concern at the level of job losses currently being discussed at the University. While the University is an autonomous institution, it is our clear expectation that the University’s leadership works with us, and engages fully with staff and trade unions, to explore all options to protect jobs.
“Work will continue in the coming days to convene the right range of expertise from across government, the sector, and the wider city region to support the institution as it continues to develop its Financial Recovery Plan.
“Scotland’s universities play a pivotal role in the economy and wider society, and they must be supported to thrive into the future. This support package is another clear sign of the Scottish Government’s commitment to support the sector with financial challenges – challenges which have been compounded by UK Government policies on migration and employer National Insurance contributions.”
Chief Executive of Scottish Funding Council Francesca Osowska said: “We welcome Scottish Ministers’ continued commitment to the tertiary sector and confirmation of this additional funding.
“Recognising the particular challenges facing the University of Dundee, we look forward to engaging with a wide range of partners to secure its continued success as a world-renowned University delivering excellent outcomes for learners and researchers and contributing to economic growth and social wellbeing.”
The additional £10 million capital funding has been identified from within the education portfolio.
