Cabinet Secretary opens ALLIANCE conference

Humza Yousaf MSP opened the People: Community, Voices Stories conference during a visit to Plus Perth.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousaf MSP, will deliver a keynote address at the ALLIANCE ‘People: Community, Voices, Stories’ conference.

He combined his talk with a visit to PLUS Forth Valley, a charity based in Stirling, supporting children and adults with disabilities and their families, from birth to age 35.

The project was funded through the Self Management Fund and focusses on supporting young people and adults learn key skills to help them manage their disability, improve their wellbeing and be involved in deciding their future.

During the visit the Cabinet Secretary met with young adults accessing the project and joined in activities including baking and boccia.

Michael said ‘I liked playing Boccia with the Minister and I was happy that I beat him!’ Kate noted that she ‘enjoyed giving the minister a tour of the garden’ and Niall ‘…was proud to show off all his gardening work.’

Susan Fullerton, Chief Officer at PLUS thanked the ALLIANCE for enabling this project to go ahead.

‘The opportunity to rebuild the lives of adults following the pandemic has been a huge focus for us. They are a group who have missed a great deal of support and their isolation has caused so many struggles. It is great to see them feeling so enabled now and proud to share their positive experiences.’

 About People: Community, Voices, Stories

Annual Conference, Community: People, Voices, Stories, paints the picture for connecting communities, through people using their voices to tell their stories. The event will bring together communities through lived experience, providing a platform for voices to be heard and stories listened to.

Chief Officer of the ALLIANCE, Sara Redmond said of the conference

“The experiences of disabled people, people with long term conditions and unpaid carers should be central to our understandings of what needs to change in health and social care in Scotland going forward to ensure a sustainable future in which people can live well.

In addition, we need to recognise the essential input of Scotland’s third sector in supporting people during the pandemic and look ahead to address issues surrounding funding of that sector.

We have brought together a range of speakers on topics from COVID-19 recovery, the National Care Service and the incorporation of a Human Rights Bill and community focused events providing a vibrant platform for our contributors. This digital conference marks the start of important conversations that we should all be having going forward.”

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