A Scotland that Cares campaign calls for change
- Area of Work: Policy and Research
- Type: News Item
- Published: 19th February 2025
A Scotland that Cares campaign calls on the Scottish Government to set a dedicated National Outcome on Care now.
The ‘A Scotland that Cares‘ campaign has sent a letter to Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, to express disappointment in the announcement of a further review of the National Performance Framework (NPF). This review has delayed the introduction of improved National Outcomes including dedicated National Outcome on Care.
For almost three years, A Scotland that Cares campaign – which is backed by over 70 organisations, including the ALLIANCE, and hundreds more individuals across Scotland – has been making the case that the role of care and carers is too often hidden and systemically under-valued in Scotland. This injustice comes despite the foundational importance of care to our society, as well as its huge importance to the Scottish economy.
The Scottish Government has 11 National Outcomes, which it says describe the kind of Scotland it aims to create. Yet within these, care is almost invisible.
In May last year, the campaign’s call for the Scottish Government to make care visible in the National Outcomes appeared to have been heard following consultation. The Government’s proposal to introduce a new National Outcome on Care in Scotland was warmly welcomed.
Now, with the delay in the introduction of the Scottish Government’s own proposal for a dedicated National Outcome on Care, the invisibility of care and carers is set to continue. This will send a damaging message to those who look after someone in Scotland. Carers must not be asked to wait any longer to see themselves at the very heart of a Framework which the Scottish Government says represents “a vision for collective wellbeing”.
Failing to publish new National Outcomes, will weaken trust ahead of the yet-to-be-determined NPF review and fuel fears that the proposed National Outcome on Care may never be put in place.
Read the letter in full here.
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