In the context of unprecedented pressure on public services and the tax/spend powers available, the announcements on specific policy areas in the Scottish Budget – such as child poverty are welcome.
However, as we continue to analyse the detail and work with colleagues across both Government and partner organisations to better understand the impact of investment decisions, we will be looking to determine the extent to which this Budget is capable of delivering the priorities we have identified in our TSI Network Manifesto and indeed, in the Government’s own ambitions for Public Service Reform and its Population Health Framework.
It is encouraging to see some areas benefiting from multi-year funding. But unfortunately, the application of Fair Funding principles across Scottish Government are seemingly no closer to moving beyond commitments (which have been in place for years).
It is not yet clear to us whether this Budget delivers the investment decisions required to develop the prevention and early intervention approaches that are crucial to building a resilient public health system. Essential to this is that funding intended to improve communities must actually reach those communities; it cannot deliver impact if it is absorbed or delayed within the system.
Across the third sector there are strong examples of collaboration alongside national and local government. We are ready to work alongside our public sector colleagues to address these challenges – but we must be resourced and trusted to do so. Investing in the third sector is mutually beneficial and we look forward to developing solutions together.
Read more in the TSI Scotland Network Manifesto.
The TSI Scotland Network is a body of expert charities that support, develop and advocate for the third sector and social enterprise and that also make it easier for people to volunteer with a focus on inclusion. There are 32 Third Sector Interfaces – or TSIs – across Scotland; one in each local authority area.