In the context of today’s Accounts Commission report, which highlights a £647 million budget gap facing Scotland’s local authorities, the financial outlook for public services is stark. Rising costs, inflation and mounting social care demands are putting unprecedented pressure on our statutory systems.
Against this backdrop, TSI Scotland Network representatives had a very constructive meeting yesterday with Jenni Minto MSP, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health.
The discussion focused on the growing number of excellent collaborations between the third sector and public sector colleagues—innovating locally and nationally to redesign service delivery models that protect investments and enable early intervention and prevention. These efforts are not only about improving lives—they are vital cost-saving preventative strategies, reducing the need for high-cost crisis and emergency interventions.
But it is also vital that we are always frank in these conversations.
The warning signs across our communities are escalating:
- Decreasing life expectancy
- Funding shortages
- A decline in volunteering
- An alarming number of third sector organisations are in crisis or closing down
The reality is clear: our governments are in danger of presiding over a broken mixed economy—one that simply doesn’t work for the people it’s meant to serve. Alternative models do exist and it was discussed that £100 spent in the third sector goes further than £100 in public services, and the role of community-led, socially focused models like social prescribing was a way forward.
Minister Minto listened closely and welcomed open discussion about:
- Fairer funding models
- Greater flexibility in delivery
- Reducing bureaucracy by investing directly in the third, social and community sectors
TSIs and the third sector are ready and willing to lead alongside public sector partners but we must be resourced and trusted to do so.
Now is the time for bold action: devolve power, be serious about fair and flexible funding and back the organisations closest to communities.