ALLIANCE Hope to Action: Conference report launched

We have published our conference report from our annual conference Hope to Action as we look to the future and the work still to be done.

In March, almost 300 people with lived experience, third sector professionals, and decision-makers from across Scotland’s health and social care landscape came together for the ALLIANCE Annual Conference 2026; a day built around one clear purpose – keeping people at the center of everything we do. Marking our 20th anniversary, ‘Hope into Action’ was both a celebration of how far we’ve come and a call to work together for the future we still need to build.

The conference explored what it truly means to turn hope into action in a system under strain. Speakers, members and partners reflected on the realities facing Scotland – stretched budgets, rising need, and growing division – while also highlighting the strength, creativity and determination that continue to define our sector. The message was clear; meaningful change is only possible when we act collectively, listen deeply, and insist on a future where people’s rights, dignity and wellbeing come first.

The report published today captures the key themes from the day, including human rights, changing narratives, tackling health inequalities, and looking ahead to the next 20 years. It also reflects how much we value our members, whose insight, leadership and lived experience continue to shape the ALLIANCE’s work and Scotland’s wider health and social care landscape.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed; our speakers, delegates, photographer Marc Millar, illustrator Jem Milton, Deafblind Scotland and the BSL Choir, and the ALLIANCE staff team who brought the day together. A huge thank you to our sponsors and exhibitors who made the day possible. The conference was a wonderful way to celebrate not only 20 years of the ALLIANCE, but the strength and resilience of our members and the wider third sector.

Publishing this report is not the end of the conversation. We are committed to ensuring the ideas, challenges and hopes shared at the conference continue to shape our work throughout the year. Turning hope into action means staying focused, staying connected, and continuing to push for the change people and communities deserve.

Alongside the report, we’re also sharing a short video capturing the atmosphere of the day – the energy in the room, the conversations taking place, and the thoughtful feedback from delegates. It’s a snapshot of a sector that cares deeply, collaborates widely and refuses to give up on a better future.

Watch the video below.

You can read the full conference report below.

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