Government responds to campaign by independent MSP Jeremy Balfour on behalf of disabled people and increases funding to support access to services
The Scottish government has announced a 50% increase to its Improving Access Fund, which will be open to applications later this autumn.
The new fund was established earlier this year to provide better access for disabled people to the services and projects on which they rely. When the fund was announced, as part of the Scottish government’s wider disability equality plan, the total money available was £1m.
That has now been increased by 50% to £1.5m, following a tireless campaign by independent MSP Jeremy Balfour on behalf of disabled people and the organisations that support them.
Mr Balfour says: ‘I am proud to have worked with the Scottish government to deliver new money for disabled people in Scotland. This funding is a solid step in the right direction but it must not be the last step. I believe a wider debate needs to take place on how best to support disabled people across into the next parliament. Delivery of a multi-year funding deal is a welcome commitment.’
Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, adds: ‘We made it very clear when launching our disability equality plan that disabled people are a priority for the Scottish government. In order to deliver lasting change, we must improve access to vital support and services. That’s why the Scottish government is boosting the amount available via the Improving Access Fund. This means we are committing to invest £3m to support the overall disability equality plan and improve the lives of disabled people across Scotland.
‘We also recognise the vital role disabled people’s organisations play in working to support and empower disabled people, and so we are committing to explore multi-year funding for those organisations.’
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