Community Conference 2022, Glasgow.

The Community service group members from around the country met in Glasgow for Unisons first face to face conference without social distancing since the very first lockdown in 2020.

The first day was the seminar part of conference and we began with a minutes silence for those community workers we lost during the pandemic. We then heard from Gavin Edwards Unisons national officer for social care about the things Unison have done throughout the pandemic and what the plans and intentions are going forward. Claire Williams gave a presentation on member engagement and Donna Rowe-Merriman on home and hybrid working. We finished the day with a presentation from the Scottish minister for Social Care Kevin Stewart on how Scotland plans to move social care forward and standardise training and registration with a national care service.

The second day began with various workshops which were well attended and the delegates enjoyed. We then heard from Assistant General Secretary John Richardson before the conference proper began. The delegates debated 21 motions in total covering everything from Trans equality to fair pay in the community sector. We heard numerous stories from delegates of how the last two years have had a significant impact on them and their families. The agenda was dominated by motions on social care, many reflecting what the future looks like for care workers as we emerge from the pandemic.

The service group executive is now tasked with following through on the motions and putting into practice what the conference agreed.