ILF Scotland
ILF Scotland

Re-Opening ILF

Post Date: 28 November 2023

Disabled people and their representative organisations have long campaigned for the re-opening of the Independent Living Fund (ILF), and in September 2023 we received the news that it would re-open in Scotland next year.

First Minister Humza Yousaf, MSP, announced in his first Programme for Government in September that the fund would re-open on a phased basis, with an initial £9 million in the financial year 2024-25.

This will enable up to 1,000 additional disabled people with the most complex needs to access the support they need and deserve to live independent lives.

To prepare for re-opening for applications in April 2024, ILF Scotland staff are working with disabled people, their representative organisations, the Scottish Government and other key stakeholders on the co-production of the re-opened fund.

Co-Production Working Group

We have established a Co-Production Working Group who met for the first time in October 2023. This advisory group includes disabled people, carers, disabled people's organisations (DPOs) and representatives of ILF Scotland, the Scottish Government and health and social care statutory partners.

The Working Group is co-chaired by Iain MacAllister, Deputy Director, Scottish Government, Directorate for Social Care & NCS Development, and Peter Scott, Chief Executive of ILF Scotland.

The Group meet every two weeks to help develop the policies for a re-opened ILF. They consider the access principles of application, the relationship with social work, management of ILF awards and stakeholder engagement.

In February 2024, the group offered their recommendations on the policies for the re-opened ILF to the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport. In March 2024, the Minister approved those recommendations.

View the Co-Production Meeting Minutes

Co-Production Events

During December 2023, and January and February of 2024, we hosted a number of co-production events, in person and online, to gather views and help shape the re-opened ILF.

Turnout for these events was fantastic and we gathered a lot of feedback.

See Feedback and Reports from all our Re-Opening Events

While the initial events are now finished, we may hold further events in the future to gather more feedback. Please watch our social channels or bookmark this page and return regularly to be the first to know.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a question about the re-opened fund? Have a look at our Frequently Asked Questions and see if it's been answered.

Frequently Asked Questions
A green graphic with the text: All of us at ILF Scotland warmly welcome the First Minister’s Programme for Government announcement that the Independent living Fund is to re-open to new applications in 2024. The re-opening of the Fund will enable us to assist more of Scotland’s most disabled citizens overcome the barriers to independent living that they face on a daily basis. We feel privileged to have this opportunity, but do not underestimate the responsibility that accompanies it. We look forward to working with disabled people, their organisations, and other key stakeholders on the co-production of the re-opened Fund. We will provide more details on this process in the coming weeks. On the right is an image of the ILF CEO, Peter Scott OBE and his name and title underneath. Underneath that sits the ILF Scotland logo in white.
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