More than 30 Scottish charities are writing to the Scottish Government asking ministers to establish a ‘recovery and renewal fund’ to give national health and care organisations a future beyond the covid-19 crisis.

In a letter to the First Minister, the 34 signatories say third sector health and social care organisations have been hit hard by a loss of income at the same time as they are experiencing unprecedented demand for their services.

The authors say one in three organisations will run out of money within three months.

They say the ’unique services and support they deliver will remain just as vital - if not more so - as we continue through covid-19 recovery and into the post-pandemic period’.

The organisations are asking for a national fund for the sector to ’invest in progressing a sustainable model for integrated care for the future’.

The approach to government is being coordinated by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland.

Chief Executive Professor Ian Welsh says the pandemic has hit at a time when fundraising activity would normally be at its peak.

But instead, he says, events have been cancelled and charity shops closed:

“Cruelly, this financial impact is being felt at the very time that many organisations face unprecedented demand for their services, as disabled people, people living with long term conditions and unpaid carers seek much needed information and support.

“The sector has again demonstrated its ability to respond to challenging circumstances in an agile and flexible way.

“But as welcome and essential sources of emergency funding and the furlough scheme draw to a close, more support is needed to ensure that national third sector health and social care organisations are sustainable as key recovery partners through covid-19 and into the post-pandemic period.”

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