On the day when the Chancellor of the Exchequer delivers his first budget speech and with the removal of ring fence funding in Scotland it was poignant that the conference focussed on the future of Supporting People.

Stephen Sandham from the Scottish Government stated that the Concordat has heralded a period of change and uncertainty for providers. Stephen explained that the ring fencing had been removed as part of a new relationship between central and local government where the emphasis is on outcomes rather than intervention.

Stephen stated that housing support has a crucial role in ensuring the new national outcomes are met and that local councils will require to utilise support projects to meet the government objectives.

Stephen argued that Supporting People provides excellent value for money as research conducted by Tribal had found that for every £1 spent a return of £1.11 came back into the system. Stephen challenged the Scottish Government, local authorities and the third sector to continue to evidence the value of prevention, especially with ring fencing gone.

In a vibrant question and answer session. Delegates from the floor asked should funding be given direct to housing associations and should greater statutory instruments be put in place to guarantee support for providers. However, Stephen raised the concern that greater statutory instruments could have the affect of drawing funding away from equally important service provision and it is up to local councils to prioritise the funding according to local need.