FM announces re-opening of ILF and commends GDA members in Programme for Government Speech

GDA members welcome the FM’s announcement yesterday during the Programme for Government to reopen the Independent Living Fund on a phased approach within the next financial year, putting an additional investment of £9m into the fund.

The ILF plays a vital role in Scottish social care to support disabled people to live the lives they want to live. It must be fully re-opened & resourced to help tackle our social care crisis. Disabled people have been calling for the ILF to be reopened since its closure & the scrapping of care charges for decades – now is the time for the Scottish Government to prioritise us and take action.

GDA members were thrilled at the First Minister commending the campaigning & contributions of GDA members, our PPPs & disabled people across Scotland in his speech yesterday. In particular, the First Minister highlighted the powerful performances of the PPPs, using song and theatre to highlight the barriers and inequalities disabled people face in Scotland.

Within the Programme for Government, GDA members were also glad to see a renewed commitment to an Immediate Priorities Plan, within the Disability Equality Strategy, to tackle the urgent barriers and inequalities disabled people are facing.

The FM committed to “Publish an Immediate Priorities Plan for disabled people that recognises the disproportionate impact the cost of living crisis and the pandemic has had on this group, setting out clear actions for change.”

GDA members welcome the further commitment to immediate priorities plan to tackle disproportionate impact of the cost of living crisis on disabled people, co-produced with DPOs. It is essential that this commitment is matched with resources, leadership and political by-in to make this a reality.

FM Programme for Government – GDA, ILF and the PPPs