The new Taskforce set up to help Glasgow recover from the social impact of COVID-19 has reinforced its plans for addressing the inequalities brought about by the pandemic.
A report to the council’s Wellbeing, Empowerment, Community and Citizen Engagement City Policy Committee outlines how the various partner organisations involved in the recently-established Social Recovery Taskforce (SRT) are working together to help tackle issues of inequality, isolation and disengagement which have exacerbated as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
The SRT forms part of the city council’s recovery and renewal programme. The group is co-chaired by the City Convener for Community Empowerment, Equalities and Human Rights, Councillor Jen Layden and Councillor Richard Bell, City Treasurer.
It brings together representatives from a range of community planning partners, third sector and voluntary organisations to look at how the city can rebuild and recover socially from the effects of COVID-19. It will focus on a number of key areas including – improving the health and well-being of disabled people/communities; a review of the Third Sector and its relationship with the council and improving opportunities for young people at different stages through collective engagement with the city’s colleges and universities.
Councillor Jen Layden said: “This year has been life changing for everyone. It’s clear that very few will emerge from the pandemic unscathed. There is a lot of good work underway to help us get a better and clearer understanding of the additional barriers people are facing as a result of the pandemic.
“We know existing issues of poverty and inequality, loneliness and isolation have deepened and need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. The months ahead will focus on delivering outcomes under identified key priorities for the benefit of those most affected.”
The report to the WECCE CPC (which took place on Thursday, 24 September) is available via the following link: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/
