This feels like a step backwards in terms of supporting autistic adults in Forth Valley. The health board claims that an autism diagnosis isn't required to access support, but unfortunately that is not the reality that many of us know. www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...

My mum would’ve cheered this para from Tressa Burke. Any muppet who thinks support for disabled people is generous should read every word of this by @neilmackay.bsky.social Freedom from poverty and basic dignity are the minimum in any decent society www.heraldscotland.com/news/2493865...

So it looks like the National Care Service Bill in Scotland will now be renamed the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill - which on balance is probably a more appropriate name.

This week, I'm preparing with colleagues @engenderscot.bsky.social to attend the Scottish Labour Party Spring Conference. We're hosting a fringe on women's poverty and financial inequality with speakers @shubhanna.bsky.social @gda-karen.bsky.social @melanieward.bsky.social & Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP!

Scottish Government pledged to get rid of social care charges by 2026. There has been very little progress on this. Instead we now have even more local authorities introducing care charges! news.stv.tv/west-central...

🚨 BREAKING: We are delighted to share that our client @ellenclifford.bsky.social has won her case against the DWP over an unlawful consultation held on reforms tightening the #WorkCapabilityAssessment. These reforms would lead to over 400,000 people being worse off by at least £416 a month.

Hi 👋 We're back and ready to welcome you at our webinar next week where we'll present the findings of our review of Scottish Local Authority Budgets 24-25 Remember to book your place 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gender-bud...

1. Last week the Govt announced an independent commission that will report on how to improve social care in England. For those of us in Scotland, this feels very déjà vu as its nearly 4 years since the Independent Review of Adult Social Care in Scotland was published. www.bbc.com/news/article...

My last article of 2024. “Across Christmas and New Year, Gaza’s skies will continue to be alight with bombs, not fireworks.” Please read and share. www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...

I had a conversation with the amazing Shubhanna Hussain of the Coalition of Carers in Scotland this week. I’m now convinced more than ever that we need national care standards in Scotland & party politics must be put to one side to achieve this goal. No more postcode lotteries!

We welcome the announcement today in the draft Scottish Budget that Scottish Government are committed to raising the earnings threshold for Carer Support Payment and Carer’s Allowance to £196. This means carers in Scotland will be able to earn an extra £45 a week whilst receiving these benefits.

You can read our full statement on what we would like the Scottish Government to prioritise for carers in the Scottish Budget this week: https://buff.ly/3CRJE8G

The Scottish Budget takes place on 4th December. Unpaid carers and local carer organisations are experiencing significant funding pressures alongside the rising cost of living. The National Carer Organisations are urging the Scottish Government to secure funding and support for unpaid carers.

The National Carer Organisations in Scotland have issued a joint statement expressing dismay at yet another delay to the National Care Service. We are urging all political parties to put disabled people & unpaid carers at the heart of any future social care reform. www.carersnet.org/national-car...

Have updated the unpaid carers starter pack with new folk who have joined this week. Happy to add anyone who I've missed so far...

New analysis published by Carers Scotland last week shows that in 2022 carers in Scotland saved the public purse £15.9 billion. This is almost equivalent to the Scottish NHS budget (£17.8 billion) in the same year. It's an astonishing figure, but not one that any of us should be proud of... 🧵

Haven’t found a Scottish third sector folk/campaigners starter pack so here’s one - follow/reply if I’ve not added you and you want to be on it. go.bsky.app/BFP22uD

It is seen as a vital tool to keep ppl out of hospital, esp in winter, by providing hospital-level care at home - but Glasgow closed H@H on Nov 8 EXCLUSIVE 'Extremely concerning': Glasgow drops Hospital at Home service as winter looms www.heraldscotland.com/news/2473922...

Social care support is how many disabled people and unpaid carers are able to access some of their most basic human rights. It's an utter disgrace that councils continue to charge people to access essential care and support! #CarersCantWait

EXCL: The majority of Scots with learning disabilities are NOT being offered promised annual NHS health checks, new data from @scottishlabour.bsky.social shows. The checks were a key SNP post-pandemic pledge to reduce health inequalities, but those waiting say its another "broken promise." STV 6pm

I've made the Social Media for Good starter pack - go.bsky.app/CcChsCw It includes: @alexaheinrich.bsky.social @tiffanyhoran.bsky.social @dannybirchall.bsky.social @thatchristinag.bsky.social Tell me about yourself in a message if you want to be added.

Founder @talatyaqoob.bsky.social gave evidence this morning to the Scottish Parliament on women’s representation in elected politics and included our research on women of colour’s visibility and representation in media when asked about role models and equal platforms:

Hi. This is nebulous, but I'm looking for a chat with anyone who has moved from Glasgow over the boundary to one of the neighbouring local authorities about how they feel about it for something I'm working on. Would be very grateful.

What a fantastic opportunity - a writing competition specifically for unpaid carers! 👇🏽

My photography skills are quite dire, but the view tonight...😍

Is a power grab really such a bad thing?🤷🏽‍♀️ Right now local authorities have absolute power over the lives of disabled people and unpaid carers. What the National Care Service was trying to do was give some of that power back to supported people and their families. Is that not worth investing in?

Trying to reconnect with folk on this platform - let me know if you'd like to be added to the list 🤓 go.bsky.app/Qvo8yXR