Hansard

I, too, congratulate Kenny MacAskill on securing what I now know will be his final debate before he retires as the member for Edinburgh Eastern. I wish him well for the future.

The motion is very much a constituency-focused one, as Caring in Craigmillar is a grass-roots support service that aims to help the elderly, disabled or vulnerable at a dedicated care centre. As a north-east MSP, I do not mind admitting that I was not aware of the group or its activities. However, I have been interested to learn about its work during the past 15 years and about the positive contribution that it appears to make in providing assistance to the most vulnerable people in the east of this city.

The motion talks about the PhoneLink service, which has operated since 1998, and I am told that it was originally funded by a grant from the Craigmillar priority partnership, which was established and funded in 1995 by the then Conservative Scottish secretary, Michael Forsyth. That was part of the Conservative Government’s innovative work to tackle poverty. I further understand that much of the Craigmillar Festival Society’s work of that time was funded through European objective 2 and European social funds, which were secured by Michael Forsyth and the Conservative Government. Perhaps Mr MacAskill will correct me if that was not the case.

One of the key objectives of Caring in Craigmillar is to combat loneliness and isolation by providing group activities and outings, facilitating social interaction and providing new opportunities to make friends. That is important because, as we know, loneliness and isolation are affecting an increasing percentage of elderly and socially disadvantaged citizens. People with disabilities, people with a range of long-term conditions and people who are restricted physically, psychologically and socially may all experience isolation and loneliness. Many elderly people live alone because of bereavement, and many more have little or no contact with family or friends.

Centres that provide respite from such circumstances are vital to the wellbeing of the most vulnerable people in our society. In an age when so many channels of communication are available, it is telling that there is still a significant problem with social isolation and loneliness in Scotland today. We should all remember that it is everybody’s problem, which should not be ignored or tolerated, and that a change in attitude is required in our society if its impact is to be reduced.

The motion looks at how Caring in Craigmillar can be a model for other organisations to follow. As we have heard, a large number of excellent projects and community activities are already in place in many parts of Scotland to identify and tackle the widespread issues of social isolation and loneliness. I feel that I should mention one project in my region.

The Aberdeenshire Signposting Project works with people who are affected by or at risk of developing low to moderate mental health problems to increase their level of social contact and their usage of locally available leisure and educational facilities. It does that by putting people who are referred to the project by general practitioners and others in touch with sources of appropriate support, help and advice.

All such support services, including Caring in Craigmillar, need to be assessed regularly so that proper standards of care are being given to the community’s most vulnerable people. Enhanced staff and volunteer training programmes should always exist to ensure the highest standards of care. To do otherwise would defeat the purpose of such groups and organisations.

I thank Kenny MacAskill for bringing Caring in Craigmillar to the Parliament’s attention by securing this evening’s debate to highlight an important project in his constituency, and I wish him well in his endeavours after he leaves this place.