Review the policy on school commencement and deferred school entry in Scotland
- 12 Signatures
Children are cohorted for good reasons for sport and education. In almost all other countries, and in many sports, it is tightly limited to 12months. In Scotland it is permitted to extend to 19months.
Our deferral rates are among the highest in the world and it is likely to be doing more harm than good.
We know that being among the youngest in a normal cohort places you at disadvantage with higher rates of physical injury, mental ill health, suicide, some SENs, lower academic attainment, and lifetime earnings making this a public health problem. This is known as the Relative Age Effect. It can be expected that the effect is causing significant harm to children, but we do not know for certain because Scotland did not study the effect of this decision.
We also know that deferral is disproportionately chosen by white, wealthy, males; often the least disadvantaged thus widening inequality.
Support the neurodiverse community by providing funding for psychoeducation
- 20 Signatures
Psychoeducation is crucial for autistic individuals as it empowers them with the knowledge and tools to better understand themselves and their unique experiences. By learning about autism, they can identify their strengths, navigate challenges, and develop coping strategies tailored to their needs. This understanding promotes self-acceptance, reduces feelings of isolation, and supports mental health by normalising their experiences. Furthermore, psychoeducation fosters improved communication and relationship skills, enabling autistic individuals to articulate their needs and connect with others effectively. It also encourages self-advocacy, equipping them to seek appropriate accommodations and challenge stigma, ultimately enhancing their autonomy and integration into society.
Increasing numbers of women are placed in unsuitable hotel/bed and breakfast accommodation, where there is a ratio of 14 men to 1 woman.
There is a clear lack of safeguarding in emergency temporary accommodation in general, but very little attention has been paid to the specific challenges faced by women who are stuck in the homeless system. [Women are particularly at risk in mixed-sex emergency accommodation, and the hotels are notorious, with increased reports of rapes and sexual assaults] (https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/meeting-of-parliament-20-06-2024?meeting=15946&iob=136132#orscontributions_M5605E452P848C2603152)
We need secure women-only halfway accommodation that meets the specific needs of women with the objective of rapidly placing them in permanent social housing.
As part of the Glasgow Times “End the Homeless Hotel Shame” campaign, and with official figures suggesting that the number of families living in homeless hotels and B&Bs quadrupled in 2024, we support calls for more emphasis to be placed on the affordable housing supply budget.
Improve access to ADHD diagnosis and treatment across Scotland
- 102 Signatures
Scotland faces a growing ADHD crisis, with years-long waiting times for diagnosis and treatment or no access at all due to regional funding disparities. Some areas have halted assessments entirely, leaving thousands in crisis. A postcode lottery has been created.
Untreated ADHD impacts mental health, relationships, and life opportunities. Testimonies reveal years of being passed between services, job losses, and severe mental health crises.
The Scottish Government must act urgently to:
* standardise diagnostic pathways for equitable access across Scotland
* fund services to reduce waiting times and improve capacity
* provide post-diagnostic support, including therapy and medication
* develop a national ADHD strategy to address the societal and individual impact of untreated ADHD.
Untreated ADHD is a social justice issue. Many cannot afford private diagnosis or care, making urgent action essential to end this postcode lottery and ensure fair access to ADHD services.
Currently, the SHR’s focus is limited to social tenants, leaving owners of ex-council houses without adequate oversight or advocacy when structural crises arise.
I have sought updated data from the SHR on homes affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), with the SHR confirming 2,445 social homes are impacted, but emphasized its limited focus on social tenants. SHR does not collect data on private properties, however, UK RAAC Campaign Group figures now confirm at least 2487 council homes are affected. Through FOI requests, 1,357 privately owned homes were identified, bringing the total to over 3,844 affected properties in Scotland, though private home data remains incomplete. I have criticised the SHR for withholding information and providing inaccurate figures.
It is crucial that a formal mechanism is established to address the gaps in the current system, which leaves owners of ex-council houses vulnerable and without recourse when faced with widespread structural challenges.
Allow the use of privately sourced donor eggs in NHS funded IVF treatment
- 192 Signatures
After commencing our surrogacy journey early this year, our surrogate, my fiancé and myself attended a telephone appointment with the infertility clinic at the Glasgow Royal. We were told that - although we were on a waiting list for eggs - the likelihood of getting eggs would be “minuscule” as the waiting time suggests over 30 years before we are next in line. The NHS in Scotland operates on an “all or nothing” policy meaning if patients source eggs from elsewhere they lose all funding for IVF via the NHS. This leaves a massive gap in equality for those in need of eggs. This affects people in same sex male and heterosexual relationships, as well as single women and men. Due to this void in resources, many people are faced with the prospect of crushing a dream to have a biological child.
In previous cases, victims have been treated worse than the perpetrators because of the policies that protect young perpetrators.
This has created circumstances where a person accused of rape is sitting in a classroom with the alleged victim. Schools should be required to automatically expel a pupil if charges are brought against them.
I urge the Government to take a look at this as kids should be protected and should not have to be subject to this. Their education and the rest of their lives are put at risk by ignoring this issue.
The common swift are migratory birds, returning from Africa to the same nest site each year, and are solely reliant on buildings for their breeding success.
Added to the UK Red List for conservation status in 2021, [nest site loss is a factor in UK swift decline of 62% since 1998] (https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/publications/bbs_report_2022_v1.1.pdf)
Nest sites are unseen and lost at an alarming rate due to unsympathetic building upgrades, inadequate nest protection, and no requirement to survey within the planning process.
To reverse the decline, we must provide nesting opportunities in their thousands and retain existing key swift colonies.
Swift bricks are building compliant, BSI standardised, inexpensive, incorporate into all build types, maintenance free, and will also serve other building reliant species.
Including swifts in all building surveys would significantly reduce the loss of existing nesting colonies and would make a huge impact. A mandatory approach is the ONLY way to achieve this.
For decades, people in Nairn and surrounding areas have called for a bypass to take traffic from the A96 trunk road out of its town centre.
In 2011 the Scottish Government pledged to complete the dual carriageway network between all of Scotland’s cities – including the dualling of the A96 and Nairn Bypass, with a preferred route published in 2014.
In March 2024, Made Orders were published and the process for the acquisition of land required for the scheme started in May 2024.
At present there is no timeline for when the project is set to be delivered.
After more than a decade of delays, local communities continue to face worsening traffic congestion, pollution, and road safety risks.
With significant developments set to bring thousands of new residents and workers to the area, urgent action is needed to address these growing challenges which will further impact the livelihoods of communities affected.
Introduce a parking badge for pregnant women
- 23 Signatures
Too often pregnant women can return to a car park and find that the person that has parked next to them on the driver’s side has parked uncomfortably close, making it a challenge for them to get into their car.
I believe that the Scottish Government should provide pregnant women with parking passes that last until a few months after their pregnancy. This would allow the woman time to recover and get used to having a child in the car, providing them with both peace of mind and ease of use in this very stressful time.