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Reposted by COSLA

Joe Fagan @joejfagan.bsky.social · 12d

Our family support hubs in South Lanarkshire have been shortlisted for the Cosla Excellence Awards - practical and successful examples of early intervention in action. Very worthy contenders!

www.cosla.gov.uk/news/2025/ce...

Celebrating Local Excellence: 15 Scottish Projects Shortlisted for 2025 COSLA Awards

Fifteen projects from across Scotland have been chosen as finalists for the 2025 Excellence Awards - COSLA’s annual celebration of Scottish Local Government success.

www.cosla.gov.uk

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · 12d

✨Our fantastic fifteen finalists in this year's COSLA Excellence Awards have been announced! We are looking forward to finding out the winners at the Awards Ceremony in November, as part of the COSLA Conference & Exhibition.

Read more with comment from @morayshona.bsky.social here: bit.ly/4pFt4gg

A photo of COSLA President, Councillor Shona Morrison, with a quote which reads: " The COSLA Excellence Awards are a highlight of my year and it’s always inspiring to hear about so many positive and innovative projects being nominated, especially given the challenging times we are in. Council teams use their creativity, innovation and genuine passion for their communities every day to overcome increasingly complex challenges. The Awards exist to recognise exactly this talent and passion."

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · 13d

A new document published today by COSLA and The Scottish Government shares how we plan to roll out the launch of a new personalised digital health and social care service: MyCare.

Read more: gov.scot/publications...

A photo of COSLA's Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Cllr Paul Kelly, with a quote: "I’m pleased that COSLA and the Scottish Government are working together to deliver ‘MyCare’, a new online app that will, in time, enable people in Scotland to interact more effectively with health, social work, and social care services, including arranging appointments and accessing their health and social care information."

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · 22d

www.cosla.gov.uk/news/2025/la...

Latest figures on homelessness

www.cosla.gov.uk

COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · 22d

There were 704 deaths from suicide in 2024, a decrease of 11%, in figures released by National Records of Scotland.

COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson Cllr Paul Kelly commented on the reduction and reiterated the continued need to tackle the inequalities which contribute to suicide.

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · 22d

A bi-annual update on Homelessness Statistics covering 2024-25 has been released today. Cllr Maureen Chalmers, COSLA Community Wellbeing Spokesperson commented:

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · 23d

Our Elected Member Bulletin is live! Read all the latest from COSLA & Local Gov, including:

🟣Key meetings and events
🟣Information about our upcoming Conference
🟣Wellbeing resources for Elected Members

🔗https://us6.campaign-archive.com/?u=f74224074f4382b2e4f41ba43&id=e58365c887

COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · 24d

Listen to our Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing, Cllr Maureen Chalmers, on BBC Radio Scotland about homelessness, the housing emergency & the situation across Scotland.

Cllr Chalmer's contribution can be heard from 1:14:53 for approximately 5 minutes.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The Sunday Show - 14/09/2025 - BBC Sounds

News, discussion and interviews from politics and beyond.

www.bbc.co.uk

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · 28d

📣 Today at the APSE Annual Seminar and Service Awards, COSLA’s Director of Membership and Resources, John Wood, spoke about how Scotland’s local authorities are delivering on key priorities:

✅ Driving a just transition to Net Zero
✅ Supporting fair growth
✅ Delivering for our communities

#apse25

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · 28d

COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly, has today (10th September 2025) marked #WorldSuicidePreventionDay.

COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · Sep 5

We are very proud of Councillor Heddle, and his friend, on their fantastic achievement!👏

COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · Sep 5

The pair were primarily doing it as a personal challenge, but are all too aware that being able to do this as sixty-something guys (in their own words), is a privilege and that, in the meantime, cancer is affecting, and sometimes taking, the lives of friends and loved ones 💕

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · Sep 5

They cycled 74 miles per day on average, with their longest day being 102 miles. The total ascent for the ride was just under 50,000 ft, or 1.7 x Mount Everest!🚵‍♂️🏔️

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · Sep 5

Cllr Heddle partnered with his friend, Mike, to complete the cycle which was unsupported - taking their stuff along with them, staying in Youth Hostels, B&Bs and hotels along the way!

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · Sep 5

Here at COSLA, we have our very own ‘feel good Friday’ story for you…

Our Vice President, Councillor Steven Heddle, recently completed a 967-mile cycle from Lands End to John o' Groats in just 13 days, raising a massive £5000 (including Gift Aid) for
@cancerresearchuk.org
🚴‍♂️

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · Sep 5

Earlier this week, the Whole System Strategic Improvement Group held its latest quarterly meeting.

Read what COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly, who co-chairs the WSSIG, had to say following the meeting:

This important forum brings together key partners in health and social care, showcasing the innovative and collaborative work that Local Government is leading to improve outcomes in social care. The use of the Near Me technology in prisons and the Community Health Index within Local Government are great examples of how digital solutions can improve people’s experience of support, enable information sharing and enhance collaboration between services.

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · Sep 4

Our Chief Executive, Jane O'Donnell, joined a panel discussion this morning at the Solace Scotland Conference.

The panel brought together senior leaders from across Scotland’s public services to share insights on driving transformational reform.

We look forward to the rest of the conference!

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · Sep 2

Our Elected Member Bulletin is live! Read all the latest from COSLA & Local Gov, including:

🟣Latest media appearances and statements
🟣Information about our upcoming Conference & Exhibition
🟣Wellbeing resources for Elected Members

🔗https://mailchi.mp/cosla/cosla-emb-2nd-september-2025-reissue

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · Sep 1

COSLA's President, Cllr Shona Morrison, & Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, Cllr Maureen Chalmers have shared a statement on community cohesion, following a number of protests reported across Scotland.

Full statement: bit.ly/3JYEwmF

@morayshona.bsky.social @maureenchalmers.bsky.social

hoto of COSLA President Councillor Shona Morrison, with a statement which reads: "COSLA reaffirms the commitment of Scottish Councils to welcome all people who are seeking safety in this country and to work in partnership across our communities to ensure that all feel safe and included and are treated with respect and dignity no matter where they are from."

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · Aug 29

COSLA Resources Spokesperson, Cllr @katiehagmann.bsky.social will join a panel discussing 'Adapting to Fiscal Challenges: Future-Proofing Scotland's Public Services' at CIPFA Public Finance Live Scotland 2025 Conference next week.

🔗www.cipfa.org/training/cipfa-scotland-public-finance-conference

COSLA Resources Spokesperson, Cllr Katie Hagmann will join a panel discussing 'Adapting to Fiscal Challenges: Future-Proofing Scotland's Public Services' at @CIPFA Public Finance Live Scotland 2025 Conference next week. Read the programme & find out more: www.cipfa.org/training/cipfa-scotland-public-finance-conference

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Reposted by COSLA

Scotland's Futures Forum @scotfutures.bsky.social · Aug 20

Futures Forum opening event ariane-burgess.bsky.social asks "Has the creation of the Scottish Parliament strengthened or weakened Local Government?" at the #FestivalofPolitics #FoP2025

Share your thoughts below

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Reposted by COSLA

Scotland's Futures Forum @scotfutures.bsky.social · Aug 20

“It's not local and it doesn't govern” @andywightman.scot says as the discussion opens at #FoP2025

Is the current structure of local government fit for the next 30 years?

👇 Join the discussion👇

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COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · Aug 20

@scotfutures.bsky.social @lgiu-local-gov.bsky.social

COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · Aug 20

Today we're discussing how Scottish Local Government might look in years to come, successes, and what needs to change in the session Reshaping Local Government: A Vision for Scotland's Future.

COSLA @cosla.gov.uk · Aug 20

We're at the Festival of Politics today, with COSLA's Environment and Economy Spokesperson, Councillor Gail Macgregor joining a fantastic panel alongside Ariane Burgess MSP, Andy Wightman, Esther Robertson and Dr Greg Stride.

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