ALT A light purple background with an image of COSLA and the Scottish Government's "Hate Crime Toolkit" cover and contents page.

ALT A purple background showing people in the street, with the text "Putting communities at the heart of public service reform. How the European Charter of Local Self-Government can shape the future of Scotland’s public services."

ALT A purple background showing a street with the text "What is the Charter?" and three bullet points explaining that the Charter is an international agreement that protects local democracy, with a simple core idea: that decisions should be made as close to the people affected as possible. Scotland has now incorporated the Charter into law. This text is accompanied by three icons showing a document, people and a gavel.

ALT A purple background with a map of Scotland. The title reads "In practice, the Charter means that" followed by the text: "Decisions are taken close to communities. Councils are accountable to the people who elect them. Local Government is consulted on decisions that affect it. Councils have the powers and funding to deliver for their communities." This text is accompanied by four icons representing community, people, decision-making and funding.

ALT A purple background with people working at desks. The title reads "What does it mean for public service reform?" followed by the text "The Scottish Government has set out plans to reform Scotland’s public services. The First Minister has committed to honouring the Charter as part of that reform. COSLA believes reform should start with what people and communities need, not with structures or boundaries."

ALT A purple background with the text "COSLA Conference 2026. Masterclass: Fostering Cohesive Communities. 19 November." With portraits of Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton from Police Scotland in a police uniform, and Dr Sabir Zazai, Chief Executive of Scottish Refugee Council in a blue suit.

ALT A purple background with COSLA branding and a photo of Councillor Steven Heddle at a podium, with the text "Scotland’s councils and communities to have a stronger voice in the decisions that shape their lives. Councillor Steven Heddle, COSLA Vice President."

ALT A purple background with a quote from Councillor Steven Heddle, COSLA Vice President. In the quote Councillor Heddle welcomes the commencement of the European Charter into Scots Law and discusses its importance in the public service reform debate.

ALT A photo of Cllr Paul Kelly with the text "Encouraging vaccination uptake this winter. As the winter vaccination programme for flu and Covid begins, COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Cllr Paul Kelly, emphasises the importance of getting vaccinated for people at greatest risk."

ALT A dark purple background with a quote from Cllr Paul Kelly, COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson. This highlights the importance of checking whether you are eligible for the free flu, Covid vaccine or both. Cllr Kelly notes how vaccination remains the best protection against the flu and Covid, and helps protect health and social care workers. COSLA are working closely with social care representatives to address challenges in workforce access to vaccinations.

ALT A dark purple background with the title "COSLA Elected Member Bulletin". Followed by four light purple bubbles highlighting four key points from the bulletin: COSLA Briefing - Emerging PSR Proposals, COSLA Conference 2026, Hate Crime Awareness Week and Social Work Scotland Conference" followed by the text "and lots more!"

ALT COSLA blog page on a laptop about Hate Crime Awareness Week promoting inclusive communities by Maureen Chalmers.

ALT Portrait of Councillor Katie Pragnell Lees smiling against a purple background for COSLA's European Local Democracy Week blog.

ALT COSLA graphic featuring purple silhouette of a human head with a detailed brain illustration for World Mental Health Day 2026.

ALT Photo of Cllr Paul Kelly and quote: This World Mental Health Day we recognise the importance of lived experience, including the voices and perspectives of those living with severe mental illness in designing and delivering quality support for mental health and wellbeing. COSLA continue to value this in the delivery of our joint strategies on Mental Health and Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention.

ALT The background shows the wall and windows of the Scottish Parliament with the title “Scottish Government proposes changes for social care. How the social care proposals in the Programme for Government could impact Local Government in Scotland.

ALT A dark purple background with the title “What is social care?” The text explains that social care takes many forms, is shaped by people’s unique needs and personal outcomes, that it enables people to live full lives in their community, often in their own home, with independence and dignity and that social workers and social care workers provide vital support. The text is accompanied by two images of people in conversation and one of a block of flats.

ALT A purple background showing a person holding a health questionnaire with text explaining that the Scottish Government are intending to reform social care making services accountable to the NHS and to replace the current 14 NHS Boards with 2 strategic boards and bespoke plans for island communities. Councils have expressed concerns that these proposals move care away from individuals and communities.

ALT A purple background with a photo of Councillor Paul Kelly and a quote highlighting that people, communities and staff must have an opportunity to shape reform proposals. Councillor Kelly comments “For social care and social work, though, it’s our firm belief that they must be seen as an equal partner to health, not subsumed under it.”

ALT Councillor Paul Kelly and Aileen Morton from Hospice UK stand in the Scottish Parliament holding an orange sign that reads "Hospice UK. I support hospices."