Let us ensure Our Collective Voice is heard in this year’s election

“Our Collective Voice” is a hopeful vision for the next five years, and I encourage ALLIANCE members to bring it into their own campaigns.

As the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) celebrates our 20^th anniversary and launches our manifesto for the 2026 election, we have been reflecting on the progress and changes seen in that time. From Scotland’s strategy for self management, “Gaun Yersel”, to health and social care integration, and the creation of the devolved social security system, the ALLIANCE and our members have helped to shape policy and public services.

Much remains to be done to support the half of adults in Scotland who now live with a long term condition, over a third (39%) of whom say that it limits their activities. The three in five people who are likely to become an unpaid carer at some point in their life, and around 15% of adults and 30,000 young people aged under 18 who currently are, similarly need greater support. Scotland’s essential third sector organisations, which provide so much of that support at national, regional and local levels, are stretched beyond limit by tough financial circumstances.

Ahead of the last election, the ALLIANCE and our members were looking forward to the delivery of a National Care Service and a Human Rights Bill for Scotland to improve outcomes. Yet despite the effort put in by us, our members, and people with lived experience, through extensive engagement and co-design processes, neither of these ambitions were realised. The next Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government cannot afford to further delay social care reform and incorporation of human rights.

Not only are the costs to the health and wellbeing of people across Scotland too great, but this risks an equally precious commodity: trust. Particularly at a time when extreme rhetoric threatens to divide our communities, people need to be able to trust that their voices will be heard; that politicians will deliver on their promises; that public services will be there when they need them; and that they can access justice if their rights are breached.

This is the context in which we launched the ALLIANCE’s manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election, “Our Collective Voice”. Informed by member input throughout last year, our manifesto presents a positive vision for the next five years of the Scottish Parliament, centred around five key themes:

• Scotland as a human rights leader
• Fair finances and an equitable economy
• Renew social care
• Public services for everyone
• Strengthen prevention and lifelong support

We want Scotland’s parties to commit to mainstreaming human rights throughout public services, whilst doing more to realise the right to health. To recognise the third sector as an equal partner, with fair funding offering more room to grow and innovate. To deliver social care reform, improving standards, ending non-residential care charges, and investing in the workforce. To ensure public services are accessible to everyone regardless of their personal characteristics or circumstances. Finally, to develop and protect effective preventative approaches such as Community Links Workers and mental health services.

“Our Collective Voice” is a hopeful vision for the next five years, and I encourage ALLIANCE members to bring this manifesto into their own campaign activity. Whether that’s through raising related questions at hustings, mentioning it when you contact parties and candidates, or sharing it on websites and social media, through amplifying these calls, you can help make our collective voice heard.

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