2025: Midway to keeping the promise

Last week, The Oversight Board for the promise published its third report on the progress that Scotland is making in its commitment to keep the promise by 2030. The report is clear that, despite 2025 marking the midway point in time, Scotland is not halfway in progress.

The destination is clear, and Scotland is heading in the right direction. But the journey is behind schedule and the report calls for everyone to redouble their efforts and recommit to making the progress required. On behalf of The Promise Scotland, I make that commitment.

I have said before that Scotland needs to be searingly honest in its assessment of progress, and I thank the Oversight Board for bringing that honesty in the report. For too many children, young people, families and care experienced adults, the promise is far from being delivered.

The report focuses on Whole Family Support and the Workforce, both critical issues to get right for Scotland to deliver the promise. It highlights issues including short term funding, a stretched workforce facing a recruitment and retention crisis and a need for urgent investment in prevention.

The report also comments on the significant progress that has been made in many areas, and the “commitment and goodwill” of those responsible for delivering it. Because of this, the Oversight Board remains determined that the promise can, and must, be kept by 2030.

Five years on since the promise was made, The Promise Scotland has also been reflecting on the significant number of positive changes made by people working hard to keep the promise. You can find out more about just some these things, locally and nationally, on our website.

The Promise Scotland welcomes the calls to action in the progress report and is committed to playing our part in their delivery. For example, we will be working alongside Fiona Duncan, the Independent Strategic Advisor for the promise, to develop the more detailed route-maps for Plan 24-30 by the end of the 2025. That work is already underway, working in partnership with many other organisations, and we will be saying more about that in the coming weeks.

We will continue to work with Scottish Government, local authorities and other partners to fully develop the Promise Story of Progress. The publication of the Promise Progress Framework last year was a big step forward. But there is still a major gap in our collective understanding about the extent to which change and progress is being felt in people’s lives. Working alongside partners and the care community, that gap must be closed this year.

There is just under six years to go until the end of 2030. That is a long time in a child or young person’s life. So, as the Oversight Board says, there is no time to waste.

All those with responsibility to keep the promise must look at how they can work together, to learn and change. Alongside that, clear leadership and investment is needed from decision makers, including those at national and local government. At times, particularly in the run up to Scottish parliamentary elections, that will require courage and more radical action.

For my part, I will ensure that The Promise Scotland plays its role in supporting people to make the transformative change that is required. We will also reflect, learn and change. That has been a continuous process since the organisation was created in 2021, and it is more important than ever, bearing in mind the commitment to our own obsolescence no later than 2030.

So, thank you again to the Oversight Board for its important work in holding Scotland – and that includes The Promise Scotland – to account. The whole team at The Promise Scotland remains committed to doing everything we can to support Scotland in delivering the promise by 2030 and beyond.

Find out more

To find out more about the changes which have happened, visit https://thepromise.scot/what-must-change/halfway/

Read the Oversight Board report at www.oversightboard.scot

Find out more about the route maps, and The Promise Progress Framework at www.plan2430.scot .