Latest news with #TomArthur
STV News
5 days ago
- Health
- STV News
Scottish Government opens £10m fund to create up to 150 new disabled toilets
The Scottish Government has opened a £10 million fund to build up to 150 new disabled toilets. The Changing Place Scotland fund has opened for applications, with the money to last for the next two years. Changing Places Toilets are designed to be bigger than normal facilities to allow for easy wheelchair use as well as have the necessary equipment and layout to help those with disabilities. Mental wellbeing minister Tom Arthur said access to toilets is a 'fundamental human right'. 'Changing Places Toilets offer vital facilities for people with disabilities and their families and carers whose needs cannot be met through standard accessible toilet provision,' he said. 'I am very pleased the fund has now launched. 'This £10 million investment in Changing Places Toilets will make a huge difference to thousands of disabled people and their families and carers, enabling them to participate fully in society and access community resources.' Jenny Miller, the chief executive of disability organisation Pamis, said the funding would 'dramatically increase' the number of facilities in Scotland and will make an 'enormous difference'. She said: 'Filling the gaps in the provision of this essential facility will open up the whole of Scotland and ensure everyone has the same opportunity to travel, access public spaces and engage in their communities. 'We are proud to be working alongside both the Scottish Government and Inspiring Scotland on this important project over the coming months, helping to ensure that new Changing Places Toilets are thoughtfully planned, well supported, and sustainably delivered across the country.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
5 days ago
- Health
- The National
£10 million in funding for community toilet facilities announced
Up to 150 specialist accessible toilets will be installed through investment from the Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund in a bid to help meet the needs of disabled people who require carer support and equipment to use facilities. Currently, there are 270 Changing Places Toilets in Scotland, which is a 30% increase since 2019, when new legislation required accessible spaces to be included in large new buildings with public access. Mental Wellbeing Minister Tom Arthur has hailed the fund he saying it will help make a huge difference to thousands of disabled people and their families. READ MORE: One of Scotland's most popular hill walks reopens after £900,000 investment He said: 'Access to toilet facilities is a fundamental human right. Changing Places Toilets offer vital facilities for people with disabilities and their families and carers whose needs cannot be met through standard accessible toilet provision. 'I am very pleased the fund has now launched. This £10 million investment in Changing Places Toilets will make a huge difference to thousands of disabled people and their families and carers, enabling them to participate fully in society and access community resources.' The £10 million will be allocated across 2025-26 and 2026-27 with the fund, administered by Inspiring Scotland, now open for applications. The Scottish Government said that areas that do not currently have adequate provision of Changing Places Toilets will be prioritised. Jill Clark, a Glasgow-based Changing Places Toilets user, said: 'By having lots of Changing Places Toilets, I have more freedom to go places without worrying if I get to the toilet.' Promoting a more inclusive society CEO Jenny Miller said the specialist toilets are essential facilities to ensure everyone has the same opportunity to travel and access public spaces across Scotland. She said: 'This investment and opportunity to dramatically increase the number of Changing Places Toilets across Scotland will make an enormous difference to the lives of some of the most excluded people within our society. 'Filling the gaps in the provision of this essential facility will open up the whole of Scotland and ensure everyone has the same opportunity to travel, access public spaces and engage in their communities. 'We are proud to be working alongside both the Scottish Government and Inspiring Scotland on this important project over the coming months, helping to ensure that new Changing Places Toilets are thoughtfully planned, well supported, and sustainably delivered across the country.'
Scotsman
29-07-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Age Scotland announces £310,000 to support grassroots dementia projects across Scotland
Age Scotland is delighted to announce a new round of the Encouraging and Supporting Grassroots Activity (ESGA) fund, offering £310,000 in grants to local groups working with people living with dementia and unpaid carers across Scotland. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 are available to fund activity over a 12-month period, running from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2027. Applications are now open and must be submitted by 5:00pm on Friday 5th September 2025. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Funded by the Scottish Government through the National Dementia Resilient Communities Programme Board, the ESGA fund supports the delivery of the National Dementia Strategy for Scotland. It aims to build resilience and sustainability in community-based support for people affected by dementia. Evanton Wood Community Group The fund prioritises community-led activities and Age Scotland particularly welcomes applications from groups working in rural or remote areas, and those supporting people from ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities, where access to dementia services can be especially limited. All funding decisions will be made in partnership with a panel of people living with dementia and unpaid carers, ensuring that lived experience is central to the process. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pasna Sallis, CEO Funding Director for Weekday Wow Factor and former recipient of the ESGA fund, said: "ESGA funding has secured a vital weekly meeting space for Weekday Wow Factor's Glasgow Meeting Centre, providing a safe and supportive environment for people living with dementia and their families. In a time when so much can feel uncertain, this consistent space offers comfort, routine and a sense of stability. "The funding also enables us to support members' physical, mental, social and emotional wellbeing through regular group activities and personalised 1:1 support. These sessions help build confidence, strengthen connections, and foster a strong sense of community and purpose." Tom Arthur, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, said: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'In delivering change for our dementia communities, we have been clear how vital grassroots organisations are to providing more accessible, personalised support that meets the needs of people living with dementia across Scotland. "The Scottish Government welcomes the launch of this year's fund by Age Scotland, which has been supported by our local and national partners through the Resilient Communities Programme Board. 'We also welcome this year's funding focus on rural areas and underrepresented communities, which will help strengthen the sustainability of local support networks in these areas.' Anna Clements, Head of Dementia at Age Scotland, said: 'We're proud to launch this new round of ESGA funding, which continues to invest in local, community-based solutions that make a real difference in people's lives. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This fund has been co-designed with people who live with dementia and those who care for them. Their insight is central to our decision-making, and we're committed to funding activity that reflects their priorities and experiences.
The Herald Scotland
26-06-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Minister admits ‘work needed' to improve neurodivergent support
During a ministerial statement in the chamber on Thursday, Mr Arthur said: 'I recognise significant work is needed in this area. "I do not underestimate how much work is needed to ensure that neurodivergent young people are able to access the support they need when they need it. 'This work will not happen overnight. It will require collaboration and a range of partners working together.' 'I recognise that a formal diagnosis can be important to an individual's identity and understanding of themselves or their child, however, support should be provided on a basis of need not diagnosis.' Mr Arthur also said the government would provide £500,000 of additional funding this year to deliver improvements to the support and services available to children and families. Earlier this week, the report, Experiences of Autism Assessment and Diagnosis in Scotland, surveyed 624 people and it paints a stark picture of delays, refusals, and a lack of support in the current system. Scotland's autism organisations have since warned of a 'highly inconsistent' and 'failing' system with the report pointing to individuals waiting as long as seven years to receive an autism diagnosis. Some 65% of the 624 respondents to the survey were autistic adults with 35% comprising of family members and carers of autistic people. Of those surveyed, nearly two-thirds (62%) reported a lack of information about the process, including a lack of guidance and support. Scottish Labour MSP also hit out at the government for what they named as its "Orwellian" response to the report. READ MORE: Individuals in Scotland waiting seven years for autism diagnosis Labour MSP slams Scottish Government over autism support Autism crisis in Scotland: Can Scot Gov learn from a golden retriever? In his response, newly-appointed Wellbeing Minister Tom Arthur said accusations that the Scottish Government has 'removed' children from CAMHS waiting lists are false. However, Mr Johnson hit back, saying people have been removed from waiting lists for referral. "They have been removed," he told The Herald, "CAMHS may not be the right service, but they haven't specified what is the right service. "Right now it is impossible, either as a matter of policy or a matter of fact, to get an assessment for autism or ADHD as a child or adult. "Health boards have either stopped taking referrals or have such long waits they might as well have. 'It is Orwellian [from the Government]. To say it is false, just on a strict measurement, it is a fact." Today, Mr Arthur re-iterated his comments that they were "incorrect assertions" that young people are being moved off waiting lists to meet CAMHS waiting times targets. However, Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney said he was "dismayed" at this statement from the minister as he said "it's a matter of fact not assertion". "Children get removed off the CAMHS list to different pathways with often indefinite waiting times. "It's struck me as a bit of Orwellian Double Think." 'Some children are still waiting too long to receive the support they need.' Data on neurodevelopmental diagnostic waiting times is currently not publicly available. In the chamber, the minister admitted 'further work is needed' to improve the quality of data in this area. Conservative MSP Brian Whittle accused the Scottish Government of 'cherry-picking and manipulating' data to 'fit their narrative'. Later, the party's public health spokesperson added: 'This SNP government are not being honest with the public and families over why there has been such a massive increase in demand for diagnosis in such a short period of time. 'In typical SNP fashion they have failed to be transparent over the data. 'It is a disgrace that fewer than a third of children were seen for a neurodevelopmental assessment within the recommended timescales in March 2024. 'The SNP government must do more to support children with neurodevelopmental disorders by providing more resources to support activities in communities up and down the country.' The new taskforce on improving neurodivergent support for young people will be chaired jointly by Fiona Davis, chief executive of NHS Highland and Dr. Lynne Binnie, Edinburgh Council's head of Education for Inclusion.
The Herald Scotland
26-06-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Labour MSP slams Scottish Government over autism support
Mr Johnson, who has ADHD, said it feels as though the Scottish Government "want us to disappear" through their response to the report and what he described as a lack of urgency to act on problems highlighted. His comments come after Scotland's Autism organisations published a major survey report on Wednesday which found that some individuals are waiting over seven years for an autism diagnosis. It also found that half of respondents (50.65%) said it was hard or very hard to get a referral for an autism assessment, with just over a fifth (21%) saying they had been refused a referral at some point. Responding to the report, Mr Johnson said: 'This is a really chilling read. 'When people seek a diagnosis that is normally because of crisis, whether that is family crisis. For young people, school refusal. For adults, that could be relationships or work. 'So through these waits, you are prolonging that crisis. I am very concerned about all of this." READ MORE: Mr Johnson also said the focus on privatisation in the report was an important point. Just over a fifth (21%) of survey respondents had sought a private diagnosis, with long waiting times and the absence of a local adult assessment pathway cited as key factors. The average cost of a private diagnosis reported was £1,540 with the highest reported cost being £4,500. A total of 39% of those who had sought a private diagnosis reported that this had caused them financial hardship. Mr Johnson said: 'You are essentially saying that neurodevelopmental conditions are now not within the scope of the NHS and it is in essence privatising the provision of that healthcare for those people for whom it is an absolutely essential lifeline and that is unacceptable.' The Scottish Government has since said long waits for support are "unacceptable" and they are "working to improve access to the best possible care". In his response to the report, newly-appointed Wellbeing Minister Tom Arthur said accusations that the Scottish Government has 'removed' children from CAMHS waiting lists are false. However, Mr Johnson has since hit back saying that CAMHS specific waiting lists were not referred to in the report as being the place where children were 'removed' from and people have been removed from waiting lists for referral. "They have been removed. "CAMHS may not be the right service, but they haven't specified what is the right service," Mr Johnson told The Herald. "Right now it is impossible, either as a matter of policy or a matter of fact, to get an assessment for autism or ADHD as a child or adult. "Health boards have either stopped taking referrals or have such long waits they might as well have. 'It is Orwellian [from the Government]. To say it is false, just on a strict measurement, it is a fact." Last month, John Swinney told parliament that assessment referrals would not be accepted without a co-occurring mental health condition. Mr Johnson believes his own condition and autism have been neglected by the government. The MSP told The Herald: 'These conditions very often get described as invisible disabilities. "Right now it feels like the Scottish Government wants us to disappear because I don't see where we are in their plans at all." He added: 'Alternative pathways for a diagnosis of autism or ADHD have not been created. 'For new referrals like in big parts of Scotland such as Tayside there is not presently a route to an assessment or diagnosis on the NHS and there are other parts of Scotland where they are not accepting new referrals, such as in Lothian. 'In most of Scotland, the wait time is being measured in decades. I have got constituents who are already on waiting lists who have been told they will be for 17 years. 'That just means it is de facto not available.' The National Neurodevelopmental Specification for children and young people sets out the standards all children's services should follow to ensure those with neurodevelopmental support needs receive the support they need. The Scottish Government has said this makes clear that support should be put in place to meet the child or young person's requirements when they need it, rather than be dependent on a formal diagnosis. However, Mr Johnson argues this does not help those who are unsure about their condition. The Scottish Labour MSP said: 'The line recently that the government has been using about not needing a diagnosis to access help is again Orwellian. 'You need a diagnosis to know what help you need. You're actually asking people to guess and stumble upon what their condition is. 'It is also wrong.' The MSP said a broad range of local authority guidelines on additional help access often stipulates a diagnosis is required. The government's handling of ADHD is also a concern for Mr Johnson. A Holyrood committee has just launched an inquiry into treatment pathways and support for both ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 'For ADHD, medication is a key line of therapy," Mr Johnson said, "That's what the NICE guidelines state. You cannot get medication without a diagnosis and currently on the NHS that requires specialist, secondary care diagnosis from a psychiatrist. 'To say you don't need a diagnosis to access help is just factually incorrect. 'By not providing the therapy or assessment, you are going to cause those comorbid mental health conditions. Unassessed autism and ADHD is a massive cause of mental health problems. 'The Scottish Government are wishing away a problem and pretending they are not causing more issues and I worry about what this means for the mental health of our young people in Scotland.' The Labour MSP said the Scottish Government must recognise the 'crisis' in support and act urgently. 'They need to recognise the crisis. We need a pathway to assessment and diagnosis for those that need it. 'There's an urgency that's lacking here and that's just going to compound the crisis that so many people will be facing.' The 'Experiences of Autism Assessment and Diagnosis in Scotland' report was undertaken by Autism Rights Group Highland (ARGH), Autistic Mutual Aid Society Edinburgh (AMASE) and Scottish Ethnic Minority Autistics (SEMA) in partnership with Scottish Autism. These organisations are calling for a nationwide guarantee regarding timely access to assessments, an improved experience for people going through the process, and better provision of post-diagnostic support. They also want the government to introduce a national neurodevelopmental assessment guarantee, meaning any adult in Scotland can access an assessment pathway should they need to.
