From CEO Alan Webb
“Just last week, we gave evidence in the Scottish Parliament about tackling inequalities in rural Scotland, from the availability and costs of transport to limited digital connection, the cost of living in terms of food, fuel and household bills and services being hard to access for too many.
“There was therefore some welcome news for families as the Chancellor announced a long-awaited end to the two-child limit for social security, increases to the minimum wage and some action to tackle fuel bills. We now look to the Scottish Government budget in January to understand the impact on families and communities, including whether planned spend on mitigating the two-child limit will now be directed to increasing the Scottish Child Payment.
“Other than passing comment, our sector continues to be ignored in major announcements, in terms of our economic or social benefits, and are often reserved for the ‘essential and valued’ commentary that lacks a commitment to investment. There is no doubt that any additional costs to employment and to running organisations affect our sector too, but any mitigating or counter actions leave us behind.
“We are taking this further opportunity to call on the Scottish Government to use the upcoming budget to increase investment to our sector, to make provision for more direct community investment and to fund our sector’s role in key national policies where we have a significant role to play, not least in Public Service Reform and Population Health.
“We also call on our Council, NHS Board and local Health and Social Care Partnership to reflect the real living wage and relevant employer/employment costs in any upcoming grants and sector investments. Our sector is committed to Fair Work, and investment must reflect this. It’s good for our local economies, for jobs in Dumfries and Galloway and the security of our community-led sector.”