Programme announced for SDS National Voice conference 2025
The programme for this year’s SDS National Voice conference, Scotland’s only national conference dedicated to Self-directed Support, has been announced.
Organised by Self Directed Support Scotland and now in its seventh year, SDS National Voice brings together those working in and around SDS for a day packed with presentations, discussion, workshops and networking opportunities.
The conference takes place on Wednesday 19 March in person at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, with options to take part in the event online.
Tickets can be book online via Eventbrite.
Programme
In 2025 our theme is “Challenge, connect, collaborate”. At a time when the wider landscape around social care support in Scotland grows ever more challenging, we’ll be reflecting on how closer partnership working across the sector is enabling us to challenge each other, connect, and collaborate to work towards the change we need to see.
With the original vision of the National Care Service considerably scaled back, and following the findings of the parliamentary Post-Legislative Scrutiny into the SDS Act, we’ll be taking stock of where we are now. We’ll hear examples of where challenging, connecting and collaborating are helping the sector to maintain a focus on achieving the principles of Self-directed Support.
The conference will be opened with a keynote address and Q&A from the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Maree Todd MSP.
A discussion panel featuring experts from across the sector will reveal a range of perspectives on the key issues around Self-directed Support.
In our main presentations on the day, we’ll hear from Local Authorities who have piloted the new SDS Learning and Improvement Framework to reflect on their implementation of Self-directed Support and identify pathways to improvement. And we’ll get the perspective from Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living CEO Pauline Boyce who’ll share learning from GCIL’s work in supporting people to access SDS, and reflect on the power of partnership and collaboration to improve the delivery of social care support in Scotland.
Throughout the day, attendees will be able to take part in a range of interactive workshops on SDS issues, with hybrid options for those attending online.
There will be a dedicated network and information space and to round off the day we’ll have a thought provoking performance from a disabled people’s performing arts group.
Full details of the programme including timings can be found on the Eventbrite page.
Tickets
The conference is aimed at people working in, or with an interest in, Self-directed Support from across the sector, and attracts people from Independent Support Organisations, Local Authorities, care and support providers, Scottish Government, and the third sector.
A range of ticket options are available, with a number of free places for supported people and unpaid carers who are not attending as a paid representative of an organisation.
