COSLA's Health & Social Care Spokesperson Cllr Paul Kelly spoke at #DigiFestScot in Glasgow today, highlighting: ✅Social work & care’s role in development of the new #MyCare.scot service ✅Collaboration on ethical AI policy ✅Great work of the Digitally Enabled Workforce Team.

📣 Last chance to register! All Councillors in Scotland are invited to join our Elected Member webinar tomorrow (10 Dec) at 10:30am. Hear from Cllr Ricky Bell on COSLA’s budget campaign: Strong Councils, Strong Communities. Register now: bit.ly/48NLu71

Preventative services save money and change lives — but they’re being cut because councils can’t stretch budgets any further. Flat cash = fewer services. We need fair, flexible funding in the #ScottishBudget. Read about our budget lobbying campaign 🔗 bit.ly/4pIpSjP

Scotland’s housing emergency is worsening: 🏘️ 17,000 children homeless 🏘️ £720m spent on temporary accommodation 🏘️ Significant real terms cut to affordable housing investment We need urgent action in the Scottish Budget. Read more: bit.ly/4pIpSjP

Social care pressures are spiralling. Integration Joint Boards have faced £497m pressures in 2025/26. A £750m investment in the Scottish Budget could stabilise the system and add 19k social workers + 9k care packages. Read more in our budget campaign➡️bit.ly/4pIpSjP

Scotland’s Councils need sustainable, multi-year funding — now. We've launched our 2026-27 Scottish Budget campaign today: Strong Councils, Strong Communities. 🔗 bit.ly/4pIpSjP

🏡 Councils deliver the services that make communities thrive. But without sustainable funding, these services are under threat. We’re calling for fair, multi-year funding and local revenue-raising powers. cosla.gov.uk/__data/asset...

📢 COSLA’s 2026 Manifesto is here: Strong Communities Start with Local Government. We’re calling for sustainable finance, empowered local democracy & investment in people and places. Let’s work together to help Scotland live well locally. 🔗 bit.ly/4qIhhP1

The EU Week of Regions and Cities took place this week in Brussels. #EURegionsWeek 2025 is the largest annual event dedicated to all matters Local and Regional Government. It involves over 200 sessions & attracts almost 1000 local government representatives from across Europe.

Our next Annual Review takes place on 7 November 📝 All are welcome to submit questions and attend this formal event with our Board, Scottish Government and COSLA, where we'll review the year's achievements and challenges, and set plans for the year ahead. More info 🔽 https://ow.ly/SmEH50X9Ecn

Our family support hubs in South Lanarkshire have been shortlisted for the Cosla Excellence Awards - practical and successful examples of early intervention in action. Very worthy contenders! www.cosla.gov.uk/news/2025/ce...

✨Our fantastic fifteen finalists in this year's COSLA Excellence Awards have been announced! We are looking forward to finding out the winners at the Awards Ceremony in November, as part of the COSLA Conference & Exhibition. Read more with comment from @morayshona.bsky.social here: bit.ly/4pFt4gg

A new document published today by COSLA and The Scottish Government shares how we plan to roll out the launch of a new personalised digital health and social care service: MyCare. Read more: gov.scot/publications...

There were 704 deaths from suicide in 2024, a decrease of 11%, in figures released by National Records of Scotland. COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson Cllr Paul Kelly commented on the reduction and reiterated the continued need to tackle the inequalities which contribute to suicide.

A bi-annual update on Homelessness Statistics covering 2024-25 has been released today. Cllr Maureen Chalmers, COSLA Community Wellbeing Spokesperson commented:

Our Elected Member Bulletin is live! Read all the latest from COSLA & Local Gov, including: 🟣Key meetings and events 🟣Information about our upcoming Conference 🟣Wellbeing resources for Elected Members 🔗https://us6.campaign-archive.com/?u=f74224074f4382b2e4f41ba43&id=e58365c887

Listen to our Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing, Cllr Maureen Chalmers, on BBC Radio Scotland about homelessness, the housing emergency & the situation across Scotland. Cllr Chalmer's contribution can be heard from 1:14:53 for approximately 5 minutes. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

📣 Today at the APSE Annual Seminar and Service Awards, COSLA’s Director of Membership and Resources, John Wood, spoke about how Scotland’s local authorities are delivering on key priorities: ✅ Driving a just transition to Net Zero ✅ Supporting fair growth ✅ Delivering for our communities #apse25

COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly, has today (10th September 2025) marked #WorldSuicidePreventionDay.

Here at COSLA, we have our very own ‘feel good Friday’ story for you… Our Vice President, Councillor Steven Heddle, recently completed a 967-mile cycle from Lands End to John o' Groats in just 13 days, raising a massive £5000 (including Gift Aid) for @cancerresearchuk.org 🚴‍♂️

Earlier this week, the Whole System Strategic Improvement Group held its latest quarterly meeting. Read what COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly, who co-chairs the WSSIG, had to say following the meeting:

Our Chief Executive, Jane O'Donnell, joined a panel discussion this morning at the Solace Scotland Conference. The panel brought together senior leaders from across Scotland’s public services to share insights on driving transformational reform. We look forward to the rest of the conference!

Our Elected Member Bulletin is live! Read all the latest from COSLA & Local Gov, including: 🟣Latest media appearances and statements 🟣Information about our upcoming Conference & Exhibition 🟣Wellbeing resources for Elected Members 🔗https://mailchi.mp/cosla/cosla-emb-2nd-september-2025-reissue

COSLA's President, Cllr Shona Morrison, & Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, Cllr Maureen Chalmers have shared a statement on community cohesion, following a number of protests reported across Scotland. Full statement: bit.ly/3JYEwmF @morayshona.bsky.social @maureenchalmers.bsky.social

COSLA Resources Spokesperson, Cllr @katiehagmann.bsky.social will join a panel discussing 'Adapting to Fiscal Challenges: Future-Proofing Scotland's Public Services' at CIPFA Public Finance Live Scotland 2025 Conference next week. 🔗www.cipfa.org/training/cipfa-scotland-public-finance-conference

Futures Forum opening event ariane-burgess.bsky.social asks "Has the creation of the Scottish Parliament strengthened or weakened Local Government?" at the #FestivalofPolitics #FoP2025 Share your thoughts below

“It's not local and it doesn't govern” @andywightman.scot says as the discussion opens at #FoP2025 Is the current structure of local government fit for the next 30 years? 👇 Join the discussion👇

We're at the Festival of Politics today, with COSLA's Environment and Economy Spokesperson, Councillor Gail Macgregor joining a fantastic panel alongside Ariane Burgess MSP, Andy Wightman, Esther Robertson and Dr Greg Stride.

COSLA Policy Boards restarted last week with our Health & Social Care Board. In one of the excellent presentations, the Board was shown the Suicide Prevention Scotland campaign: What if a conversation about suicide could save a life? 📽️https://youtube.com/watch?v=cruZ_svP3FE

Today the COSLA Health & Social Care Board met to discuss key issues including information governance, Public Analyst Laboratories and prison social care. Members heard from Suicide Prevention Scotland, SPFL Trust & Public Health Scotland. Councillor Paul Kelly, commented following the meeting:

Our Elected Member Bulletin is live! Lots of great stories from COSLA & Local Gov, including: 🟣Booking info for the COSLA Annual Conference 🟣CHI In Local Government Funding 🟣New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy ...& much more! Read it here: mailchi.mp/cosla/cosla-...

⏰It's the last day to apply for the 2025 Excellence Awards! Make sure to get your application in by 5pm today. One more chance to have your council's projects and teams recognised by these national awards! Find all the info & links to apply: www.cosla.gov.uk/news/excelle...

Improving Outcomes Through Partnership: the CHI in Local Government Project brings together key partners to deliver better outcomes for citizens. Read the full joint release from COSLA, The Scottish Government, The Digital Office & Public Health Scotland to find out more: bit.ly/3IE4CuO

Today marks one year since the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child #UNCRC was incorporated into Scots Law. Read the full comment welcoming this milestone from COSLA's Children & Young People Spokesperson, Councillor Tony Buchanan: cosla.gov.uk/news/2025/ce...

Councillors are invited to register for one of two upcoming webinars on the Independent Review on the Process for Determining Electoral Boundaries for Scotland, led by Andrew Kerr OBE. 📅22nd July at 11am: bit.ly/3IJhTC7 📅31st July at 4pm: bit.ly/3IpgXCP

COSLA has welcomed news today that Unite and GMB have joined Unison members in accepting the two-year pay offer put forward by COSLA in June. Read more from our Spokesperson, @katiehagmann.bsky.social: cosla.gov.uk/news/2025/gm...

COSLA has released a short statement welcoming news that UNISON have accepted the recent two-year pay offer from COSLA for the Scottish Joint Council (SJC) workforce. Read the full statement here: cosla.gov.uk/news/2025/un...

COSLA has published a new case study from @northlanarkshire.gov.uk showcasing the Burns Gym Virtual Fitness Programme delivered in local care homes. Read more: bit.ly/4ktsqPf (1/2)

COSLA's email bulletin for Elected Members has been published! In this issue: 🟣Latest updates on pay negotiations 🟣Excellence Awards deadline extended 🟣Book your place at the COSLA Conference ...& much more! 🔗https://mailchi.mp/cosla/cosla-emb-3rd-july-2025

A new factsheet from COSLA explains the June 2025 pay offer for local government employees. Read the Your Pay Made Clear factsheet here: cosla.gov.uk/news/2025/yo... Learn more about the offer here: cosla.gov.uk/news/2025/co...

***Deadline Extended*** The deadline for the COSLA Excellence Awards has been extended to 5pm on Friday, 1st August. If you know of an exceptional council team or project, please spread the news - there's still time to apply! Find out more & apply: www.cosla.gov.uk/news/excelle...

Today COSLA Health & Social Care Spokesperson, Cllr Paul Kelly, met with Minister for Social Care & Mental Wellbeing, Mr Tom Arthur MSP. Great opportunity to discuss shared opportunities & challenges for social care & social work, as well as COSLA & Scottish Government's ongoing partnership working.

Following a COSLA meeting of Council Leaders today, COSLA's Resources Spokesperson, Cllr Katie Hagmann & Children and Young People Spokesperson, Cllr Tony Buchanan shared a joint statement on class contact time. Read the full statement: bit.ly/3ZOZrxR

COSLA Children & Young People Spokesperson Cllr Tony Buchanan has welcomed the publication of today’s review of the National Neurodevelopmental Service Specification ⬇️ www.gov.scot/publications...

Yesterday while attending the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) Conference, COSLA's President and Chief Executive met with WLGA Leader, Cllr Andrew Morgan, Deputy Leader, Cllr Rob Stewart, Welsh Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford and Chief Executive of WLGA, Chris Llewelyn.

COSLA was delighted to attend a roundtable today chaired by the Scottish Government to discuss partnership approaches and solutions around football related disorder. (1/2)

Cllr Paul Kelly, COSLA's Health & Social Care Spokesperson, visited the Blackburn Partnership Centre in West Lothian yesterday to mark the release of the Population Health and Service Renewal Frameworks. Both Frameworks will be implemented jointly by COSLA & the Scottish Government. bit.ly/4n1NaQF

COSLA has made a new and improved pay offer to the SJC workforce. The offer is for a 4% increase in 2025/26 and a 3.5% increase in 2026/27. Read the full comment from our Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann : bit.ly/4n09udn @katiehagmann.bsky.social

COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Cllr Paul Kelly, delivered the closing address at yesterday’s inaugural Adults Conference hosted by Social Work Scotland. The conference profiled the interconnected nature of adult social work, with COSLA officers also involved in the day.

COSLA's email bulletin for Elected Members has been published! In this issue: 🟣Member Council visits continue with Stirling Council 🟣Carers Week 🟣Resources for Elected Members ...and much more! 🔗https://mailchi.mp/cosla/cosla-emb-11th-june-2025