Tuesday May 21 2024
The Rev Thom Riddell, convener of the Social Care Council. Picture by Andrew O'Brien
Members of the Church of Scotland were this morning urged to lobby their MSPs about the crisis in social care in Scotland.
Debating the report of the Social Care Council (CrossReach), the Church’s General Assembly agreed to ‘express alarm about the cuts to vital care services being experienced by CrossReach and other care providers in the social care sector and ask CrossReach, working with the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team, to raise awareness about the crisis in social care with Presbyteries and congregations and to make representations to the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government’.
Convener, the Rev Thom Riddell, said: ‘If we don’t do something about (social care) the whole system is going to collapse’.
In his speech, Mr Riddell had highlighted the difference CrossReach makes in its services with children and families, people struggling with their mental health or substance addiction, and the elderly. However, he said, ‘every day we see the need growing and every day we are turning people away’.
The Assembly also approved calls for further work on the issue of fair work in social care. The campaign highlights that average pay in the sector is considerably lower than equivalent positions in the NHS, which makes recruitment and retention of staff harder for organisations like CrossReach. Mr Riddell said: “We will be continuing to campaign on this over the next year and will provide details of how to get involved later on this summer. Once more we are grateful for the growing collaboration across the Church on this issue.”
Rae Lind, national convener of the Church of Scotland Guild, revealed that that organisation has raised over £425,000 for its partner projects over the past three years, despite losing a year to Covid-19 disruption.
The money has helped to support fostering and eating disorder projects in Scotland, and organisations working with children with additional needs in Uganda, orphaned children in Tanzania, women farmers in South East Asia and theological training of women in Brazil.
Mrs Lind said: “This is a remarkable achievement for Guild members, bringing a lifeline and hope to many people and follows in the tradition of 137 years of service at home and abroad.”
The Assembly was also played a video produced by the steering group of the Young Adults Guild, which has been rebranded Love in Fellowship and Trust (LIFT), but is still working in partnership with the Guild. Initially meeting online, it is hoped the group might develop into local groups meeting in person, and they are planning to host a conference next year.
Mrs Lind urged the Church to support and promote LIFT, which she said was ‘giving new impetus to the Guild in developing and securing its future and encouraging and enabling our young people at the same time’.
The report of the Faith Action Programme Leadership Team began this morning and continues into the afternoon session
General Assembly 2024: Full coverage
Post Tags: general assembly 2024
Read More >
Read More >
Read More >
There are currently no comments on this post
All fields are required. Email address will not be published.
Life and Work
121 George Street
Edinburgh
EH2 4YN
T: 0131 225 5722
E: magazine@lifeandwork.org
Scottish Charity Number SC011353
Copyright © The Church of Scotland, 2025. All Rights Reserved
Website by Adept
