fairer-scotland
Written 25 posts
World Food Day: Growing, nourishing and sustaining together
16th October 2020
The theme of this year’s World Food Day is to grow, nourish and sustain together. The coronavirus pandemic has placed huge strain on people and communities all over the world. But it has also accelerated action at a local and national level to tackle food insecurity here in Scotland. Lindsay Graham is a member of…
Social Renewal Advisory Board: A Recovery for Everyone – Emma Ritch, Executive Director of Engender
9th October 2020
Covid-19 has exposed faultlines of inequality and injustice that that have long existed in our society and in our homes. The way in which we recover from this public health crisis could either see a rollback of women’s rights or a step towards a world in which women have more equal access to resources, power,…
Social Renewal Advisory Board: Communities, Kindness and Compassion – Fiona Lees, Chief Executive of East Ayrshire Council
8th October 2020
Covid-19 may be a global pandemic, but its impact and our response is found in local communities. In the worst of times we have seen the best of humanity. People have reached out to help one another and communities have felt empowered to do what needed to be done. Kindness and compassion have shone through…
Social Renewal Advisory Board: Building Back Better – Bill Scott , Senior Policy Advisor at Inclusion Scotland and Chair of the Poverty and Inequality Commission
7th October 2020
The Covid 19 pandemic has heightened existing inequalities in Scottish society. Before the pandemic struck almost one in four children lived in poverty , however this rate was considerably higher for some families and groups including lone parents The economic impacts of the pandemic could see more Scots households facing financial insecurity – with many…
Social Renewal Advisory Board: Compassion and Equality – Maureen Sier, Director of Interfaith Scotland
6th October 2020
Four words are carved on the Mace that sits in the heart of the Scottish Parliament. These are words that embody the values of the people of Scotland. They are universal values and are deeply meaningful. ‘Justice’, ‘Wisdom’, ‘Integrity’ and ‘Compassion’ – powerful words, which require powerful action. As Scotland plans its recovery, the economy must…
The Social Renewal Advisory Board: Housing, Homelessness and Equality – Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis
5th October 2020
As we went into lockdown, people experiencing homelessness who were rough sleeping or staying in night shelters were quickly moved to safe emergency accommodation, in a move that has certainly saved lives and demonstrates the determination of the Scottish Government to end homelessness. The creation of the Social Renewal Advisory Board shows that there…
Salar Mohammad Rassoul, a COVID -19 response volunteer at NHS Dumfries and Galloway
22nd June 2020
Salar Mohammad Rassoul, age 40, originally from Syria, has been volunteering with NHS Dumfries and Galloway since September 2019 and is currently involved as a COVID-19 response volunteer. “I moved to Scotland from Syria with my family in April 2018 and I found refuge in Dumfries and Galloway. I am so grateful to the Scottish…
Progress made on tackling homelessness
14th January 2020
CEO of Crisis and Chair of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group Jon Sparkes welcomes progress made since the launch of the Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan. The Scottish Government asked some big questions of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group (HARSAG) reflecting a serious commitment to addressing homelessness in Scotland. The ambition…
Small Steps, Big Changes – Guest blog from Sarah Robinson Galloway, YouthLink Scotland
16th October 2019
When I graduated from university our Chancellor told me to ‘go change the world’ which she probably also said to the hundreds of other students graduating that day. I took it as sentimentality at the time but now I have found myself in a job where I am trying to do just that. I am…
Changing negative perceptions of rough sleeping and homelessness – guest blog from the Simon Community
20th August 2019
Megan Thomson manages the Simon’s Community’s RSVP Street Team service in Glasgow. Here she talks about changing negative perceptions of rough sleeping and homelessness, and how the Simon Community is making a difference to people’s lives. Simon Community Scotland Street Team are out on the streets of Glasgow 365 days of the year, working with…