The 'go to' organisation for Local Government improvement in Scotland

When I began leading the Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme in 2021, I had one thing in mind. To identify and develop the tools and resources that enable all decision-makers to understand and embed greater consideration of their impact on the places where we live, work and play. And, in turn, for them to understand the preventative impact these places have on reducing the shameful inequalities we currently experience in Scotland. This had to include the impact of place on people’s wellbeing but also on other emergencies such as climate change. This is what it means to take a Shaping Places for Wellbeing approach.

Developing our knowledge of how to support local government, local health boards and all other stakeholders to take a place-based approach was critical. This meant supporting understanding of the features we need to get right in a place for those using it to thrive. It also meant putting more of a local spotlight on which population groups in our Project Towns were being impacted by inequality.

In each of our seven Project Towns, a Project Lead and Community Link Lead provided tremendous skills and expertise to support change in local decision-making. Crucially, they also maximised the opportunity to reflect and share their learning with each other meaning they successfully captured how all decision-makers can apply the same approach. The tools and resources they have produced will enable effective mobilisation of truly collaborative, proactive decision-making that considers the long-term, unintended impact we are having on reducing or exacerbating Scotland’s inequalities.

When the Programme started, I could not have envisaged the extent of the commitment of those who joined me to implement it. It has been a privilege to work with such a team of passionate, experienced practitioners who have exceeded in the delivery of a successful Programme.

My final reflection is around the very real and serious financial situation that the public sector and others face at this present time. As a Programme we benefitted hugely from three years of funding from the Health Foundation and Scottish Government. Immense thanks to both. This enabled a team whose expertise has grown into a force to be reckoned with. A team ready to support Scotland. I extend my thanks to all of the team who have done an astonishing job producing resources for us all to use for years to come. But I also want to express my frustration that, as yet another short-term funding stream comes to an end, the team's passion and expertise that could provide bespoke support to apply these fantastic tools will now be lost. If we are serious about reducing inequalities in Scotland, we need to think longer term and give change the time and support that it needs and deserves.