Tag: Scottish Government

Grassroots drug support funding

28 projects share £1 million

People affected by drug use across Scotland will continue to receive vital support thanks to funding for 28 projects delivering frontline services.

This is the final funding from the Scottish Government’s five-year National Drug Mission Funds, administered by the Corra Foundation. It aims to provide grassroots organisations with financial certainty and continuing support for those dealing with substance use, ahead of the introduction of a new Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan.  

Speaking on a visit to Street Fit Scotland, one of the recipients, which works with people who use substances to help them build resilience and connect to supportive social networks through physical and social activities, Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd said: “This funding, administered by the Corra Foundation, is a lifeline for the people these projects support, and the statistics speak for themselves.

“More than 51,000 interactions with support services in 2024-25, an increase of over 17,000 on the previous year, demonstrates the extraordinary reach and impact of these grassroots organisations.

“As the National Mission ends next month, we will shortly announce our new Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan and new support for the third sector.

“This funding provides a vital bridge to that – where we will again focus on sustained, need-based investment.”

Funded projects include recovery hubs in Kilmarnock and Forth Valley, residential rehab pathways in Ayrshire, treatment and health support in Edinburgh and West Dunbartonshire, family liaison in the Highlands, psychological therapy in Fife, and outreach services for homeless and vulnerable people in Aberdeen.

Projects in Glasgow and Dundee include recovery workshops, jewellery making, and a therapeutic programme for women in recovery with family support.

The continuation funding also supports the PanLanarkshire Drug Problem Solving Court, a peer harm reduction support worker project in Forth Valley, and organisations helping people manage health conditions and live independently at home.

Street Fit Scotland founder and CEO Michelle Reilly said: “We would like to express our sincere thanks for the funding and continued support provided over the years. We are truly grateful for this investment in our work.

“This support has enabled Street Fit Scotland to continue delivering a high-quality service, reach and engage more people, and strengthen what we describe as a growing ‘social wave of wellness’ across Edinburgh.

“Through this funding, we have supported community members to regain structure, purpose, and stability in their daily lives. Many individuals who come to us are rebuilding after significant challenges, and having consistent access to safe, supportive activity has been vital in helping them move forward.” 

NHS waiting lists continue to fall

Health Secretary hails ‘undeniable progress’ in tacking long waits

New figures show waiting lists in Scotland continue to fall with waits of over a year decreasing for 8 consecutive months.

Data from Public Health Scotland shows, at 31 January 2026, new outpatient waits of more than 52 weeks have more than halved since July 2025 – with the total waits decreasing by 52.6% in that period.

Long waits for inpatient and day case procedures have also fallen every month since July 2025, with 52 week waits decreasing by 29.8% in that 8 month period.

New quarterly diagnostics statistics also show that, at 31 December 2025, the number of waits for one of the eight key diagnostic tests had decreased by 15.1% when compared to 30 September 2025.

The figures also show diagnostic activity has risen – 245,377 diagnostic tests were completed from September 2025 to December 2025, a 10.2% (22,741) increase in activity when compared to the same quarter last year. This means thousands of patients receiving their MRIs, scans and scopes quicker to support faster diagnosis and referral onto the right patient pathway.

On a visit to the dermatology department at the Lauriston Building in NHS Lothian, where new outpatient waits over 52 weeks have fallen by more than 46%, Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “We are making undeniable progress in clearing waits of over a year – we are demonstrating consistent month-on-month improvement.

“We know there is still more to do but these latest figures show that our plan is working and our NHS is turning a corner.

“We continue to see downward trends across nearly all waiting list indicators and diagnostic activity is up – this means thousands more people getting their MRIs, scans and scopes quicker.

“Our targeted funding for this year is delivering thousands more operations and procedures and appointments compared to last year, and we are determined to build on this momentum. This progress has been driven by our dedicated and hard-working NHS staff. I thank them for their outstanding efforts.

“I was pleased to meet the dermatology team at the Lauriston Building to hear how they are driving progress in clearing waits at NHS Lothian.

“The total list size for new outpatient waits of more than 52 weeks has reduced by 46.4% since July 2025, with dermatology waits reducing by 67.78% in that period. This is outstanding progress that we want to see replicated across the country.”

Scottish Government’s Parent Club supports parents in Edinburgh to get into work and manage household costs

Campaign highlights free, confidential support for families facing money worries

A Scottish Government Parent Club campaign is supporting parents and carers in Edinburgh to access free, trusted advice on employment, managing household costs, and applying for benefits. 

The campaign recognises that money worries can feel overwhelming, particularly for parents balancing work and caring responsibilities. It aims to remove stigma by encouraging families to take the first step to seek support through Parent Club and connect with local services offering tailored, confidential advice. 

Emma Jackson from Citizens Advice Scotland, which is supporting the campaign said: “We know that many families in Edinburgh are under real financial pressure at the moment and we also know that asking for help isn’t always easy. With this campaign we want to take the stress and worry out of finding help, and guide parents every step of the way.  

“Because help is available — the local Citizens Advice Bureau and other partner organisations are ready to give you the free, confidential support and advice you need for your family, whether that’s online, over the phone or in person.   

“We can help you to review your spending, manage any debt, or make sure you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to — without putting your current support at risk. You can also get advice on finding work that fits around your family or boosts your income.  

“If you’re feeling worried or unsure where to start, Parent Club is a good first step to find information and support that’s right for you and your family.”  

For parents looking to find work or increase earnings, Parent Club makes it easy to find support, from job searching and interview tips to finding affordable childcare that fits around your family, training opportunities and improving your CV. 

The campaign forms part of a wider package of measures announced recently by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes to tackle economic inactivity and support parents into work. 

Funding of £90 million in the draft Scottish Budget for 2026-27 is expected to help up to 7,500 people furthest from the labour market into work, with thousands more benefiting from qualifications and training. This includes a £40 million package focused on supporting parents most at risk of poverty into jobs and training opportunities.

 

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes commented: “Our employability services are helping people into work who may otherwise face barriers to employment due to factors such as illness, disability or simply taking time out to have a family.

“the involvement of major employers and a wide range of partners delivering support across Scotland, we are building people’s confidence and providing access to new skills. 

“Tackling economic inactivity is a win-win situation – it boosts the economy and tackles child poverty by providing families with a secure income – and our £90 million Budget commitment will enable more people to access employment support.” 

Parent Club is the Scottish Government’s online support hub for parents and carers, offering trusted advice and helping families connect with local services. You can get more information about support with money and employment at: parentclub.scot/money-work 

National Islands Plan

“When our islands thrive, Scotland thrives”

Island communities are set to benefit from a new plan to improve housing and healthcare, alongside efforts to grow the economy and increase the number of people living on Scotland’s islands.

The second National Islands Plan will deliver targeted actions across seven key themes, including committing to delivering more affordable homes, improving access to childcare and exploring permanent transport links – specifically bridges and tunnels to improve connectivity. The Plan also introduces further efforts to pilot remote diagnosis technology to improve access to medical advice.

Further actions include an island scholarship pilot scheme for postgraduate students, and the promotion of Gaelic and island languages such as Orcadian and Shetlandic.

Launching the refreshed plan while visiting Orkney and Shetland, First Minister John Swinney said: “Island communities are a key national asset and are central to our vision of Scotland as a successful country in which to live, work and study.

“Islanders have told us clearly what they need to pursue their ambitions: homes they can afford, transport they can rely on, and more accessible local services – this plan will deliver for our island communities. It is focused, it is practical, and it puts islanders in the driving seat of their own future.

“When our islands thrive, Scotland thrives.”

Louise McQuaid, Young Islanders Network Senior Development Worker said: “The Young Islanders Network (YIN) is delighted to see the release of the New National Islands plan and we are particularly pleased that some of our key feedback can be seen in the actions of the new plan.

“We welcome the continued support for YIN within the plan and look forward to helping ensure that the voices of young islanders are heard and able to influence decision making which affects their lives.”

Luke Fraser from the Scottish Islands Federation said: “The Scottish Islands Federation welcomes the Scottish Government’s continued commitment to island focused policymaking through the National Islands Plan II and we look forward to working in collaboration to implement the key priorities.

“Ongoing, dedicated support for islands is essential – not as an extension of rural policy, but as a recognition that islands face some fundamentally different challenges and opportunities. As the Plan moves into delivery, sustained focus, long-term investment and meaningful partnership will be key to ensuring it delivers lasting benefits for island communities.”

National Islands Plan – gov.scot

National Islands Plan 2026 Easy Read – gov.scot

Boost for Gaelic language

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.

“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.

Information about World Gaelic Week is available online.

Investment to help children and families

Local anti-poverty and cost of living initiatives set for cash boost

A total of 21 projects that pilot approaches to help to eradicate child poverty and boost incomes will be backed by almost £1.9 million across Scotland.  

Through the Child Poverty Practice Accelerator Fund, 19 regions will benefit from new projects designed to support communities with the cost of living.  

This includes:   

  • placing a debt and welfare adviser in 11 primary schools in Perth and Kinross  
  • providing energy bill vouchers and further energy cost advice to eligible parents in Argyll and Bute  
  • opening a new hub to upskill workers and increase incomes through work in Stornoway  
  • a mobile ‘Dad’s Barber’ which will offer free haircare in South Ayrshire, also opening the door to wellbeing support   

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:  “Eradicating child poverty, supporting families and giving children the best start in life are the guiding principles of this government. That’s why we are investing in local anti-poverty measures across the country, helping to improve services that are in the heart of communities.   

“Our efforts are already having a good impact on household finances, be that through free prescriptions, free bus travel for under-22s or the removal of peak rail fares. The Scottish Child Payment is also playing a key role in ensuring Scotland is the only part of the UK to see relative child poverty rates fall last year.  

“Our draft Scottish Budget 2026-27 goes a step further, making landmark interventions in our attempts to tackle the root causes of child poverty, while supporting the newest Mums and Dads with a premium payment for those eligible with children under one during 2027-2028, and guaranteeing the strongest package of financial support in the UK, putting more money in people’s pockets.”  

The draft Scottish Budget 2026-2027 includes plans to invest £8 billion through the social justice portfolio to tackle the root causes of child poverty, support vulnerable people and ease the cost of living.  

This is the third year the Child Poverty Practice Accelerator Fund has supported local projects. It is used to invest in local authorities and health boards to innovate and improve community-based anti-poverty initiatives, and to test their efficacy.    

Through Round Three, running between 2025 and 2028, £1, 885,879 will support 21 projects across 19 local authorities:   

  • Aberdeen City Council  
  • Angus Council  
  • Argyll & Bute Council  
  • City of Edinburgh Council  
  • Comhairle nan Eilean Siar  
  • Falkirk Council  
  • Fife Council  
  • Highland Council (2 projects)  
  • Midlothian Council  
  • Moray Council  
  • NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde  
  • North Lanarkshire Council  
  • Perth & Kinross (2 projects)  
  • Renfrewshire Council  
  • Shetland Islands Council  
  • South Ayrshire Council & Health and Social Care Partnership & NHS Ayrshire & Arran  
  • South Lanarkshire Council  
  • West Dunbartonshire Council  
  • West Lothian Council  

Improving Community Eyecare

Budget to provide a record £144m for optometry services

People with visual impairments will receive care closer to home through a new Community Low Vision Service (CLVS).

Development work has begun on the new national service which will allow patients with visual impairment, that cannot be managed through glasses, lenses or surgery, to be supported by community optometrists instead of in a hospital setting.

Optometrists will provide care to these vulnerable patients to help them maintain their independence – including low vision aids such as magnifiers and lights, regular specialist assessments and signposting of additional help including mental health support and social services. This service will build on the success of community eyecare services already in place, the Community Glaucoma Service (CGS) and Anterior Eye Service. 

The CGS supports patients with lower risk glaucoma and ocular hypertension to be discharged from hospital and receive direct care from an accredited optometrist in the community. The Anterior Eye Service allows community optometrists to treat ten complex eye conditions which normally require a hospital visit.  

When fully operational it is estimated these services combined will support 40,000 patients to be fully treated in the community. 

The roll-out of the national CLVS will be supported by record investment of £144 million across all community eyecare in this year’s Draft Budget.

On a visit to Munro Optometrists in NHS Lanarkshire, Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “The introduction of our new low vision service is a significant step forward in our efforts to have more people treated in the community and close to home instead of a hospital setting.

“This new service will complement the programmes we already have in place – our Anterior Eye Service and Community Glaucoma Service – which together we anticipate will allow an estimated 40,000 patients to be treated closer to home.

“We know this delivers better outcomes and we want community optometrists to be the first port of call for all eye-related conditions – the national roll-out out of these services, backed by £144 million for the sector, will help free up substantial capacity in our hospitals.

“It has been nearly 20 years since free universal NHS-funded eye examinations were introduced in Scotland and we remain the only country in the UK to provide this vital service. We will maintain this crucial policy and I would remind people of the importance of having regular examinations which can help with early detection of a range of sight and non-sight threatening conditions.”

Clarifying the law on Religious Observance at school

Strengthening young people’s rights

Schools will now need to inform pupils when a request is made by a parent or carer to withdraw them from religious observance and to consider any objection the young person may have, under legislation backed by MSPs.

The Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill was passed in a final Stage 3 vote in the Scottish Parliament.

The Bill was introduced to Parliament to clarify the legal position around the withdrawal of pupils from religious observance in schools.

The changes will align legislation with existing guidance on religious observance to strengthen alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in its international form.

Once brought into effect, the legislation will strengthen pupil’s rights in relation to religious observance and religious and moral education.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “This Bill strengthens the protection and promotion of children’s rights in education, as well as those of their parents and carers. It builds on the wider progress we have made around the human rights of children and young people, while also ensuring parents continue to have a say on the religious elements of their child’s education.

“I recognise the wide range of views heard as the Bill has proceeded through the Parliamentary process. We will continue to adopt a collegiate and inclusive approach as these changes are implemented, including in the development of the new statutory guidance to accompany the legislation.“

Communities to benefit from renewable energy

New proposals for onshore renewable energy developments

Communities across Scotland could see more money invested in their area as a result of onshore renewable energy developments – under new proposals published yesterday.

The proposed updates to existing community benefit guidance for onshore energy developments would recommend that local groups should receive yearly payments of £6,000 per Megawatt (MW) of onshore wind capacity – up from £5,000 per MW – for the lifetime of a project. 

‘Community benefits’ are voluntary contributions provided by energy developers to local communities. Around £30 million in benefits was provided to groups across Scotland last year, supporting projects that matter most to local communities.

The proposals also include:

  • a new specific recommended range of £700-£1000 per MW per year for solar projects;
  • a new recommended level of at least £150 per MW per year for battery energy storage projects;
  • the pilot of a Community Benefit Peer Forum, run by Local Energy Scotland, so communities can work together, share learning and build expertise;
  • and improved guidance to support communities to maximise the long-term value of community benefit funds.

Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: “For more than 10 years, Scotland has led the way in establishing the provision of community benefits as a common and expected practice across our renewables sector.

“This has led to communities and energy developers working together to deliver tangible and long-lasting legacy benefits for local areas – along with the wider benefits of local jobs, supply chain businesses and growing local economies.

“The updated proposals outlined today seek to strike a balanced approach to future fund levels which continue to serve communities well while reflecting the market challenges for developers over recent years.

“We will continue to engage with communities and the energy sector to help refine these proposals ahead of developing our final updated Good Practice Principles later this year.”

Stephen McCarron, Chief Operating Officer at the 9 Community Councils Group, said: “The 9CC Group warmly welcome the significant updates to the Good Practice Principles and are delighted that it adopts our key asks for communities to be at the heart of the decision making regarding the funding and delivery support for local and strategic priorities.

“It’s an excellent document; comprehensive and clear on best practice while striking fair balance on the interests of developers and communities.

“A partnership approach is critical to creating a lasting legacy for our communities and whilst we will continue to promote a collaborative and wider approach in terms of communities working together, we are pleased that there is a clear distinction between those who make local decisions on funding and those who administer the fund, that avoids the risk of self interest undermining the greater good for the wider community.”

The Good Practice Principles are national guidance that sets clear expectations for developers and communities on how community benefits should be designed and delivered.  Read the Working Paper on Refreshing the Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy. 

Have your say on the proposals.

Supporting social care

Up to 30,000 extra care hours projected

Up to 30,000 extra hours of adult social care work are expected to be secured every month through the Adult Social Care Displaced Workers Scheme.

The scheme, backed by £500,000 Scottish Government funding, is helping employers recruit international workers who are already in the UK and find themselves without sponsored employment at no fault of their own.

Up to 250 workers are projected to be re-employed once checks are complete this spring and visa rules mean each must earn at least £25,000 a year.

Social Care Minister Tom Arthur said: “The UK Government’s hostile approach to migration and decision to close the adult social care visa route to new overseas applicants means this important sector faces serious recruitment challenges during a time of enormous need.  

“Our displaced workers scheme supports a sustainable social care service and workforce for Scotland. This mitigates the loss of international recruitment caused by changes to the UK immigration system and helps meet the care needs of our older population, by allowing providers to deliver thousands of extra hours of valuable support.

“It also indicates the type of society we are working to support – one with kindness and fairness to the most vulnerable at its heart.”

The Adult Social Care Displaced Worker Scheme covers additional costs which employers face when hiring a displaced worker already in the UK who has lost an employer’s sponsorship and where there are unfilled vacancies.

These costs will often prevent an employer from employing them. The scheme opened on 3 December and closed on 31 January.