Chamber and committees

That feeds into the inequality that you mentioned earlier. Do you want to come in on that point, Ms Macfarlane?

As we have exhausted our questions, I thank you all for your attendance and for your helpful submissions to the committee.

That is an interesting point. In the household survey, you rely on people identifying as volunteers. Maybe a hall keeper from a church who opens it up for a dance lesson would not consider themselves a volunteer, so that is interesting.

In my area, we have Lanarkshire Association for Mental Health. The one venue that is open for free-to-access crafting, music lessons, art classes and knitting is the premises that LAMH’s mental health cafe has taken on, which are an old cinema in our area. It is interesting to see how a charity that is not an arts charity could help and support your organisations. Those are interesting comments.

Another area that has come up frequently in our evidence sessions is the idea of social prescribing. Do you see that in action? Are there opportunities to do more in that area?

As there are no further questions from members, I thank the witnesses for their contributions this morning, which will be helpful to our inquiry, and their written submissions, which were well received by all the committee members. We still have quite a few evidence sessions to go in the inquiry, and I am sure that we will have some reflections when our report comes out. I hope that the witnesses will be able to take part in the launch when it happens.

We now move into private session.

Thank you very much. We will move to questions from members. Mr Bibby is first.

Before we go back to Neil Bibby, a couple of members wish to ask supplementary questions.

Before I turn to Mr Ruskell, I have a question. Sarah Latto mentioned the TSI Scotland Network. Can you explain what that is, please?

Good morning, and a warm welcome to the 15th meeting in 2023 of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee.

Our first agenda item is to take evidence in our culture in communities inquiry, which is focused on taking a place-based approach to culture. This morning, we are delighted to be joined by Jemma Neville, director, Creative Lives; Sarah Latto, policy officer, Volunteer Scotland; and Alison Reeves, Scotland manager, Making Music. Welcome to the committee.

We have heard throughout our inquiry about the importance of volunteers in developing and sustaining culture in our communities. In particular, the submission from Creative Lives states:

“volunteer-led, locally based creative groups represent the true backbone of culture in Scotland, yet it is one of the most overlooked parts of our cultural landscape.”

How do the contributions of volunteers develop culture in communities? How could that be better supported?

As I quoted from the Creative Lives submission, perhaps Ms Neville should go first.