Chris Creegan, chiefexecutive of the Scottish Commission for Learning Disability (SCLD), explains how the organisation is changing to help drive the delivery of Scotland’s learning disability strategy, The Keys to Life.
There has been a lot of change at SCLD over the last 12 months. We’ve changed our name, from consortium to commission, to better reflect the work we do and how we go about it.
And while in the past our board was drawn principally from learning disability charities and universities, we now have a board of entirely independent trustees, drawn from the whole population.
What’s driven this change is a desire to ensure we can work effectively across the sector and beyond to deliver Scotland’s learning disability strategy.
The Keys to Life is a far reaching and ambitious strategy. Making it a reality depends on harnessing the efforts of a huge number of organisations and individuals.
And that’s where SCLD comes in, as an intermediary, providing a bridge between government and the many national, local and charitable organisations that deliver services and support across the sector.
The Keys to Life is a far reaching strategy. Making it a reality depends on harnessing the efforts of a huge number of organisations and individuals
Chris Creegan, SCLD
Earlier this year during Learning Disability Week, the Mark Macdonald MSP hosted a parliamentary reception, Fairer Scotland, to celebrate the talents of people with learning disabilities.
The event was organised in conjunction with the Scottish Government and Jamie Hepburn, minister for sport, mental health and health improvement, delivered the keynote address.
Mr Hepburn announced the publication of a refreshed delivery approach for The Keys to Life. This included a new outcome based implementation framework and a set of priorities for 2015-17 drawing on the strategy’s 52 recommendations.
SCLD was instrumental in creating the framework and is working closely with the Scottish Government to ensure the priorities are delivered.
2015 also saw the launch of the Scottish Learning Disability Observatory (SLDO). Like SCLD, the SLDO is a strategic partner to Scottish Government, established to build our understanding of the causes of poor health and health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities.
Moving forward, the SCLD team will continue to find and promote new, better and inclusive ways to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities by sharing good practice, encouraging innovation and building an evidence base about what works.
A lot has changed at SCLD, but our core purpose remains the same as it was when we launched in 2003. We want to help people enjoy healthy, independent, active and fulfilled lives - as respected citizens of Scotland. It’s a big ambition – and one that we are committed to delivering.
From 5 January, SCLD will be based in a new office in central Glasgow at Suite 5.2
Stock Exchange Court, 77 Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow G2 1QY. We look forward to working with you and to welcoming you to our new home.
Chris Creegan is chief executive of the Scottish Commission for Learning Disability.
