Brian Whittle MSP has been putting his summer recess to good use, holding zoom forums to hear from local organisations about the issues affecting them.
The South Scotland MSP who promised to use the summer to “listen and learn” has now held forums with local charities and businesses to discuss the impact of COVID-19, and what the future might hold.
Lockdown has forced many businesses and charities to make drastic changes to how they operate as premises closed and staff were required to work from home or be put on furlough.
As Scotland begins to reopen, Brian was keen to hear how organisations had adapted to the crisis and what kind of support they might need in the future.
There are increasing concerns about how lockdown has impacted people’s mental health, with many people experiencing greater social isolation and anxiety about the virus. Many businesses also spoke about the need for clearer guidance about when and how staff should return to work.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“Over the summer, I’ve kept in touch with a lot of businesses and other groups to hear how they’re getting on and these forums have been a great opportunity for me to hear from them, but also to hear how others in the same position are doing.
Charities and the third sector more widely have been every bit as much frontline workers as staff in the NHS and care sectors. We need to think about how we fund these organisations so they can spend more time working together and less time having to compete for grants.
There are big changes coming in the economy and it’s important to start thinking now about how government can support businesses to survive and thrive in the new normal.
In almost every conversation I’ve had, people are worried about the mental health impacts of this crisis. From charity service users who have become isolated from their friends, to employers dealing with staff who are anxious about returning to workplaces. If we don’t start thinking about how to deal with these issues now, we won’t be able to cope with them later.
There’s no question that we all have challenges ahead, but with the right ideas and working together, I believe we can emerge from this crisis stronger.”
