Top 3 recommendations to tackle social isolation

Camphill Scotland has submitted a response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on  A Connected Scotland: Tackling social isolation and loneliness and building stronger social connections.  Our top 3 points call for

1.  Significant cultural change

We believe that significant cultural change is necessary within our society, and within communities across Scotland, to reduce social isolation and loneliness, and to increase the range and quality of social connections.

2.  More recognition for community settings

Camphill Scotland’s members have a strong sense of community, which is promoted through providing care and support in community settings to people with learning disabilities and other support needs, and to older people, and through providing members of the communities with choices about how they wish to engage in community life. Camphill also has a strong ethos that promotes community, respect and a sense of belonging, which helps to tackle social isolation and loneliness. As part of the cultural change necessary to tackle social isolation and loneliness, we, therefore, believe that further consideration and recognition must be given to community settings, which can promote respect and a sense of belonging within communities.

3.  Promotion of respect, inclusion & value

In addition, Camphill Scotland considers that a key element of implementing this cultural change must be ensuring that people with learning disabilities and other support needs, and older people, will be given greater respect within our society. These groups are particularly vulnerable, and are often at risk of being isolated socially. In view of this, priority should be given to actions and initiatives which will help these groups to feel respected, included and valued within communities across Scotland.

Read our full response to the consultation