By Roisin Hurst, Project Manager of the Scottish Community Link Worker Network.
This week, the Scottish Parliament’s Garden Lobby was alive with conversation, hope, and a shared vision for a better future. Our event, centred around ‘Voices of Health Creation,’ focussing on the question “What change do you want to see by 2035?”. We brought together voices from across Scotland’s communities—Community Link Workers (CLWs), health and social care professionals, third sector partners, and those with lived experience.
Standing among our network, I was struck by the power of collective ambition. These weren’t vague aspirations or empty policy soundbites. They were deeply personal, rooted in community insight, and driven by compassion and lived understanding.
So, what do our members want to see by 2035?
Let me share just a few of the heartfelt contributions gathered on the day:
- Sustainable funding for Community Link Workers. (Guess who wrote that one!) It’s more than a line on a flipchart—it’s about securing the future of a role that so many communities now rely on. Our CLWs are the connectors, the listeners, the navigators. Without sustainable investment, we risk losing this lifeline.
- A safe, secure home for everyone. Housing is more than shelter—it’s the foundation of health, stability, and dignity. By 2035, no one should be without it.
- Free memory boxes for all families affected by baby loss. Just as we celebrate new life with the baby box, we must honour and support those who grieve. This small gesture holds profound meaning.
- Health and social care that is accessible and inclusive for all, with people feeling confident in the support they receive.
- Transformative change in social care. Not tweaks, not workarounds—true, bold reform that puts people at the centre.
- Person-centred music in dementia care pathways, harnessing the healing power of music to connect, soothe and affirm identity.
- Peace, love and unity for all Scots and New Scots alike. This simple statement says so much about the kind of Scotland we strive for—one of solidarity and welcome.
- A society that becomes kinder, not more divisive, when times are hard. How we respond to challenge defines us. Let kindness be our legacy.
- Greater recognition by policymakers of the third sector’s role in early intervention and prevention. We see the difference it makes every day. It’s time that difference was fully valued.
- A stronger focus on early intervention and prevention in communities and primary care. Catching people before crisis saves lives and resources.
- A sustainable, supported social care sector for all. One that works not only for those receiving care, but for those giving it.
- More research, awareness, and support for people living with neurological conditions, recognising the long-term impact on quality of life.
As I walked away from the event, I felt moved, not just by the hopes expressed, but by the sense of shared purpose that filled the room. These are not changes we wait passively for. They’re changes we must work for, together, day by day.
At the heart of it all is one clear truth: real change starts in communities. It starts with listening. And it thrives when we create the conditions for people—especially those often unheard—to lead the way.
View the photos from the Garden Lobby Reception here:
Roisin Hurst is the Project Manager of the Scottish Community Link Worker Network. Please get in touch if you would like more information about the Network.
