Councillor David Mcdonald’s open letter

As the chairman of Glasgow Life, one of Scotland’s largest charities which to Scotland’s largest council, we is an arms-length organisation are still gauging the medium to long-term appear profound. effects of the pandemic. They We are all trying to come to grips with long-term assessment of the viability willingness of people to travel for short of businesses, the breaks or longer vacations, and the repeated and lengthy lockdowns. impact on public health from We also know the impact of the pandemic when on city finances. Glasgow Life lost our doors closed in March 2020. £38 million of income

All of it money that would have been national and international cultural reinvested in our local, and sporting assets that we are proud people of Glasgow. to deliver on behalf of the Glasgow City Council has help meet the challenge as far as it can guaranteeing income of £100 million for the next Glasgow Life an four years. That certainty means around rather than the 61 announced in July 90 venues are reopening last year.

It is that support that also allows us to say with confidence that every when funding becomes available. Glasgow Life venue will reopen We all agree that these services are important, when our income levels will recover but we do not yet know to pre-pandemic levels to allow us venues. The challenges Glasgow to reopen all of our cherished

Life face in running events are the distancing, hygiene, face-covering same as others in the city, social and the long-term efficacy of the vaccine events all need to be assessed. and behaviour of people

It is why the test event at the Fanzone will be important to gather learning

Government about how our city and to take to the Scottish its world class culture and events could

We also know that the pandemic take place again safely. has given us an opportunity to think

We have seen a reawakening of about how we work differently. community activism across the city strong connections that people during the have pandemic, and the with their local communities. We need recover from Covid. to build on that as we

Prior to the Covid-19 crisis, Audit Scotland would forecast that by the middle of this be spending 80% of budgets on decade local government education and social work. Recovering pandemic is placing even more strain from the impacts of the on the current funding model for culture people’s physical and mental wellbeing) and sport (supporting services delivered across the country authorities. by, or through, local Pre-covid, an audit of General Practice suggested roughly 6,000 consultations week for ‘mental health issues in Glasgow’ were undertaken per – many repeat presentations – representing appointments. This situation has been 20% of compounded hugely by the effects

We know that regularly participating of the pandemic. in cultural activities is linked to improvements particularly in relation to positive in wellbeing, mental health and increased social regular physical activity prevents at connection. We also know that least 20 health conditions and supports no coincidence that these activities positive mental health. It is also support the economic wellbeing time. To recover we need to work of the whole country at the same together with partners, including the

Government, to agree new ways NHS and to fund the Scottish the services we rely on for the common mental and economic health. weal; for our physical, We know that getting the model right, one which provides easy access to culture widely across the city, is our best chance and sport services of reducing the burden on future generations

Glasgow’s wider economy. The impact and growing of inaction on the health and wellbeing could be profound. of our city and its people We are ready to make the changes required to support everyone to live a great

Who will step forward to help us? Glasgow life.