Minister for Public Health, Aileen Campbell, and Minister for Social Security, Jeane Freeman, have launched the new ILF scheme!
The new ILF scheme will be a broad discretionary fund, that will provide short term awards, to support disabled people to live independently. In its first phase, the scheme will focus on supporting young disabled people, aged 16 to 21, who are at an important transitional stage in their lives.
The scheme aims, in this initial first phase, to provide an opportunity for young disabled people to achieve goals, which empower them to actively contribute to their communities and facilitate their participation in society, creating a lasting impact on their lives.
Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said:
“We want everyone in society to have the same quality of life and providing support to disabled people is one of the areas we have worked on.
“This fund will support young disabled people to take up opportunities to contribute to and participate in their communities, to help them live as independently as possible.
“We have worked directly with disabled people to develop this fund and to ensure that we give people choices and treat them with the fairness, dignity and respect they deserve.”
Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman said:
“Disabled people must be given the support they need to live the life they choose.
“Our Disability Action Plan lists 93 actions to transform the lives of disabled people in Scotland and that includes actions setting out to tackle the inequalities and barriers faced by disabled young people, including tackling social isolation and improving lives at points of transition.”
The Ministers visited Upward Mobility to launch the fund, meeting young disabled people who receive training and support at the centre in Edinburgh.
Susan Douglas-Scott, Chair of the ILF Scotland Board, said:
“We are delighted that the Scottish Government has committed extra funding of £5 million to provide a real opportunity for young disabled people, to create a lasting impact on their lives.
“I would like to thank members of the ILF Working Group for their enthusiastic support throughout the co-production of this new ILF scheme.
“At ILF Scotland we will ensure our implementation of the new scheme will continue to put disabled people at the heart of what we do.”
You can view the full press release from the Scottish Government here.
(Photo Image Credit: Upward Mobility)
