7. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to tackle social isolation and loneliness. (S6O-03204)

We published our delivery plan for our social isolation and loneliness strategy, “Recovering our Connections 2023-2026”, in March 2023. The plan aims to improve understanding of social isolation and loneliness, to reduce the harm that is caused by it and to tackle the public health issue.

The plan highlights the actions that we are taking, including providing funding support of more than £3 million to 53 organisations across Scotland over a three-year period to deliver community-led activity that responds to local needs.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with the social isolation and loneliness advisory group to help us to deliver the plan and to collaborate on ways to tackle social isolation and loneliness for those most impacted.

The

Sunday Post and Age Scotland have launched the big braw community, which is a campaign to reduce loneliness and isolation among older people by 2030. It is backed by the “Cartoon Cavalcade” legend Glen Michael, who is 98 years old—most people in here, apart from Meghan Gallacher, will know who I am talking about. Today, to use some good old-fashioned newspaper language, I can sensationally reveal that the campaign is now being backed by none other than Oor Wullie and that Scotland’s naughtiest schoolboy is to break the habit of a lifetime by helping the old folk of Auchenshuggle, starting this Sunday—so members should get their

Sunday Post

. Does the Scottish Government join Glen Michael, me and Oor Wullie in supporting this excellent campaign?

I am not sure how old the member thinks I am. Although I do not understand all his references, I certainly understand the one to the big braw community campaign. We discussed it at the most recent meeting of the social isolation and loneliness advisory group. I very much welcome the support for the campaign to tackle social isolation and loneliness, and I look forward to working with everybody involved to make sure that we are all on the same page and doing all that we can.

I am somebody who can remember Glen Michael.

Will the Minister elaborate on what impact the £3.2 million social isolation and loneliness fund is expected to have on the wellbeing of the groups and individuals across Scotland who are most in need of support?

I have managed to meet quite a few of the organisations in receipt of money from the fund so far. Even on those brief visits, I have been able to appreciate the impact that the fund is having on groups such as older people, younger people, those with mental health difficulties and disabled people.

The fund’s intention is to support organisations to create opportunities for people to connect, and we know from evaluation of the first year of activity that many organisations have reported increased social connections and the associated improvement in the mental wellbeing of participants. One organisation reported that 100 per cent of participants have improved their confidence in going out and being socially active simply by engaging with the project. The evaluation also told us that some organisations have improved partnership working in order to increase the activities on offer to communities.

The total number of beneficiaries predicted to benefit from funded activities is about 20,000 over the duration of the fund. We will continue to monitor progress with the fund.