Fairer Scotland
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Putting tackling homelessness at the heart of our COVID-19 recovery
4th June 2020 by Kevin Stewart MSP
We want to ensure that everyone has a warm, safe home that meets their needs. Our focus has not changed during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic but our ambition has increased. When I last co-chaired the Scottish Government’s Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group (HPSG) in early March, I could not have envisaged all that would be...
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Volunteers’ Week
1st June 2020 by Aileen Campbell
It’s hard to imagine it’s been nearly three months since it feels like everything changed. Apart from the essential exemptions, most of us have been doing our bit to help with the COVID-19 response by staying at home for the last couple of months. And although some of the restrictions are beginning to ease slightly...
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Support for LGBT during coronavirus – Minister blog
12th May 2020 by Christina McKelvie
Blog by Christina McKelvie, Minister for older people and equalities The coronavirus pandemic is affecting us all in a variety of different ways. I know that as the lockdown measures across Scotland continue, LGBT people may experience difficulties which are magnified by the inequality that they continue to experience. Many younger LGBT people may not...
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A Balancing Act
9th May 2020 by Christina McKelvie
We can all agree these are challenging times, beyond what we could ever imagine. The initial response to coronavirus was to stop the spread, save lives and protect the NHS. Many necessary measures have been put in place to suppress transmission and keep people safe, but we are also looking into the impact of such...
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Unsuitable Accommodation Order extended
5th May 2020 by kirstyjenkins
A Programme for Government commitment to ensure everyone experiencing homelessness has access to suitable quality accommodation has been brought forward in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The Unsuitable Accommodation Order, which currently prohibits local councils from placing pregnant women or families with children into bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) or hotels for more than seven...
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Thousands of children eligible for new benefit
9th April 2020 by Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville gives an update on a new game-changing Scottish child payment, in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Every one of us is being affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak gripping the world, which is leaving our people, our communities and our economy facing major challenges. Last week I updated Parliament on...
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Ending homelessness together and protecting vulnerable people
13th March 2020 by Kevin Stewart MSP
Earlier this week I was joined by Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick at a meeting of the Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group, which is tasked with taking forward the Scottish Government’s Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan. Our main focus at the meeting was Covid-19 and how it will impact those who are experiencing, or at...
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The women who inspire me
9th March 2020 by Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP
To mark International Women’s Day, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security Shirley-Anne Somerville blogs about some of the women who inspire her, past and present. International Women’s Day is about celebrating women’s achievements and the impact women have on society – which so often goes unrecognised. I think of women like Jocelyn Bell Burnell, the astrophysicist...
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Why we are providing period products and removing the stigma
14th February 2020 by Aileen Campbell
The Scottish Government has taken world-leading action to ensure that, for the first time, people have access to free sanitary products. It is our mission too to remove any stigma associated with periods, which are experienced by half of the population. Our action is backed up with £15 million of investment and it has ensured...
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Investing in Scotland’s social security system
13th February 2020 by Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP
We are creating the infrastructure for a new public service for Scotland. Our new social security system, is an important investment in the people of Scotland now and for generations to come. Yesterday I outlined how we are taking this new programme further. We have met and surpassed our commitments to date, having already established...
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