Call to Action - Protecting Community Health & Social Care in Argyll & Bute

Protecting Community Health and Social Care in Argyll and Bute

Argyll and Bute is entering one of the most challenging periods our health and social care system has faced in a generation. HSCP papers now forecast a budget gap of more than £18 million for 2026/27, and the pressures already being felt across social care, community services, and preventative support will only intensify if we do not act together.

The decisions made in the coming months will shape the services available to older people, disabled people, families and carers for years to come. Cuts of this scale inevitably risk falling on the very supports that keep people well and independent. Without a strong community voice, we risk losing the preventative and early intervention services that protect residents and avoid higher-cost crisis responses.

This is a critical moment for the third sector.

We have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to stand together, set out what communities need, and ensure our contribution is visible, valued and included in the planning of future services.

Join us on Friday 12th December, 12.00–2.00pm at the Inveraray Hub (and online). For those attending in person we will close at 2pm with a light lunch.

This meeting will bring together campaigning, advocacy, and community health and social care groups from across Argyll and Bute to:

• Respond collectively to the current funding crisis
• Explore a Dumfries & Galloway “DG Collective”-style model that could strengthen partnership working locally
• Develop a Third Sector Approach for inclusion in the Joint Strategic Plan 2026–2031

Your experience, your evidence, and your voice are essential. We cannot allow decisions to be made without those who understand community need and community solutions.

**If you care about the future of health and social care in Argyll and Bute, please attend.

**If your organisation is feeling the impact of pressures on prevention, early intervention or social care, we need you in the room.

**If you want the third sector to be treated as an equal partner, now is the time to step forward.**

Please confirm your attendance and share this widely with colleagues, volunteers and partners.

Together, we can help shape a fairer, more sustainable future for our communities.

Agenda (proposed)

12.00 – 12.10 - Welcome, context and aims (CEO, ABTSI)

• Overview of HSCP budget position (the forecast £18.2m gap for 2026/27; existing overspend of £1.5m at M4) Argyll and Bute HSCP Finance an…
• Impact of recovery controls and likely service reductions
• Importance of an aligned third sector voice

12.10 – 12.35 - Item 1 — Responding to the Crisis
Short contributions from groups on:

• Impact of cuts on prevention, early intervention and community capacity
• Evidence of deteriorating outcomes when thresholds rise
• Where the statutory system relies on unfunded community provision

12.35 – 13.00 - Item 2 — Discussion: Could Argyll & Bute adopt a “DG Collective” type model?

• Overview of DG Collective governance, funding and role
• Exploration of a similar structure to enable:
• Shared commissioning dialogue
• Multi-year funding agreements
• Joined-up transformation planning
• Community-level demand reduction projects

13.00 – 13.40 - Item 3 — Co-design: Third Sector chapter for the JSP 2026–2031

• What should an “Equal Partner Chapter” include?
• What commitments do third sector organisations want from the HSCP?
• What commitments can we offer in return?
• Identifying immediate priorities for 2026–2029

13.40 – 13.50 - Agree next steps (suggested)

• Draft JSP chapter circulation
• Joint response to the budget papers
• Setting up a “Third Sector Health & Care Collective”
• Preparation of a collective submission to HSCP/JSP consultation (early January 2026)

13.50 – 14.00 - Close with light lunch

A microsoft teams link will be sent to those attending online on Thursday 11th December.