Sign in

Alison Watson

@alisonwatson.bsky.social
126 followers 71 following 52 posts

Director of Shelter Scotland. Trustee of Change Mental Health.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
🕒 Every 15 minutes a household becomes homeless in Scotland. Years of political choices and under-investment in social housing created the #HousingEmergency, and only political choices and investment can end it. Our next Scottish Government must build Scotland. Build hope. Build social homes. 🏠
131
Reposted by Alison Watson
Scottish Refugee Council @scotrefugeecouncil.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
One month to go! Refugee Festival Scotland is back from 12-21 June. Over 100 events will be happening across Scotland, celebrating our diverse communities and culture. From inclusive football matches to art exhibitions, there's something for everyone! Find out more: ow.ly/EnuP50YXzKu
0125
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Scotland’s next parliament has been elected and we’re ready to work with MSPs to tackle the #HousingEmergency. Now we need a new approach to deliver 15,693+ social homes a year and get 10,480 children out of temporary accommodation. It's time to build Scotland. Build hope. Build social homes.
032
Reposted by Alison Watson
Aberlour Children's Charity @aberlourcharity.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Young people asked each party representative attending our Speak Up! event, with @savechildrensco.bsky.social & @cpagscotland.bsky.social, if they promise to involve young people, listen to them about things that affect them and make them part of their plans. Here's what they had to say 👇
033
Alison Watson @alisonwatson.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
We all need a safe place to call home. We all build our lives in the homes we live in. Tell our politicians to make building more social homes a priority.
011
Reposted by Alison Watson
IPPR Scotland @ipprscotland.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
In @heraldscotland.bsky.social: "... leading think tank IPPR Scotland has warned the plans for job losses in the public sector could see the country 'sleepwalking into austerity'." Yes, we continue to sound the alarm bell. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2607321...
heraldscotland.com
Civil servants warn SNP efficiency cuts will 'undermine' vital public services
The Scottish Government's planned efficiency job cuts will undermine workers and vital public services, it has been claimed.
123
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Only the urgent creation and delivery of social housing, at scale, can end Scotland's #HousingEmergency. ✊ Ahead of next weeks election, email your local candidates and demand the social homes Scotland needs. 🔗 shelterscotland.org/MSPEmail-BS
021
Reposted by Alison Watson
Scottish Refugee Council @scotrefugeecouncil.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
📣 Nominations for our Media Awards close on Monday! 📣 This weekend is your last chance to nominate something great you've seen, heard or read. Find out more and submit an entry here: scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/media…
scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk
Media Awards - Scottish Refugee Council
The annual Refugee Festival Scotland Media Awards celebrate fair, accurate and responsible journalism covering refugee and asylum issues
053
Alison Watson @alisonwatson.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Housing rights without enough social homes is leading to those laws being broken again and again every single day. It doesn’t have to be like this. Let’s build the social homes that will make rights real 🙌🏻
011
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
We asked shoppers what home means to them, and they told us: Safety. Happiness. Community. Home is everything. That’s why Scotland must build the social homes it needs. Demand action from your local candidates on the #HousingEmergency ahead of next weeks election. 👉 shelterscotland.org/MSPEmail-BS
022
Alison Watson @alisonwatson.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
What fantastic support from @lothianbuses.bsky.social 🙌🏻
010
Reposted by Alison Watson
CPAG in Scotland @cpagscotland.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Take a look at this new eLearning course which looks at universal credit, property and relationship breakdown. Access the free eLearning course: tinyurl.com/4vrca9ba
011
Alison Watson @alisonwatson.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Scotland’s Housing Emergency can & must be fixed: we all need & deserve a safe place to call home. If you agree, please tell your local candidates to make building the homes we need a priority if they get elected 🙌🏻
031
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Our Gran spoke to people in Glasgow and it's clear: Rents are too high and social housing is too few. 💸🏠 People are being priced out of a place to call home. Our next parliament must step up and deliver the social homes Scotland needs. Help make that happen. 🔗 shelterscotland.org/MSPEmail-BS
012
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
💔 The problem: 125,000 households stuck on a social housing waiting list. 💡 The solution: Build Scotland. Build hope. Build social housing. How do we get there? By telling politicians make ending Scotland’s #HousingEmergency their top priority. 👉 shelterscotland.org/MSPEmail-BS
051
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
More social homes means less reliance and demand for private lets, which could lower your rent. Help make that happen. Tell politicians to build the social homes Scotland needs. #HousingEmergency ✉️👉 shelterscotland.org/MSPEmail-BS
041
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Gen Z + #HousingEmergency = Zero chance of getting on the housing ladder. If you agree our youngest generation shouldn’t be paying the price for choices Scotland’s political parties have made, stand with us and demand politicians prioritise building social homes. ✊ shelterscotland.org/MSPEmail-BS
021
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Here's a few more photos showing two of our fantastic volunteers, Elona and Maryam, delivering and setting up our custom chalkboard in the shop, and chatting with visitors about what home means to them. What does home mean to YOU? 🫵❓
011
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Ahead of the Scottish Parliament election on 7 May, we visited one of our shops to find out from voters what home means to them. Ending the #HousingEmergency MUST be a priority for all parties. Stand with us if you agree and demand the social homes Scotland needs. 👉 shelterscotland.org/MSPEmail-BS
121
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Grans remember when families could afford to live, grow & belong. But a lack of social homes means families being pushed out of their communities or forced to live in unsuitable accommodation. Stand with the grans. Demand the social homes Scotland urgently needs. 👉 shelterscotland.org/MSPEmail-BS
031
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Glasgow's Kiltwalk is almost entirely sold out but there are limited tickets left for Saturday. Act quickly if you're interested! 2026 Line-Up: 🟢 25 & 26 April = Glasgow 🟢 7 June = Aberdeen 🟢 16 August = Dundee 🟢 13 September = Edinburgh Tickets for all events 👉 shelterscotland.org/Kiltwalk2026
shelterscotland.org
Kiltwalk 2026 | Walk for Shelter Scotland - Shelter Scotland
Sign up for a Kiltwalk in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee or Edinburgh. Choose your distance, fundraise for Shelter Scotland and help fight the housing emergency.
011
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Scotland declared a #HousingEmergency almost two years ago. Since then, more people have been pushed into homelessness and fewer social homes are being built. Enough is enough. Tell politicians to build Scotland. Build hope. Build social homes. 🔗 shelterscotland.org/MSPEmail-BS
053
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Polling data shows housing could hold the power in May's election. 🗳️ 57% would switch their regional vote if another party had clear policies to tackle the #HousingEmergency 🏠 73% support building more social homes to end homelessness It's time for parties to act! ℹ️ shelterscotland.org/PollSE26
051
Reposted by Alison Watson
One Parent Families Scotland @opfs.org.uk · 01/04/2026
👩‍👧 Our latest Impact Report shares how with the right support, single parents can build brighter futures for their children knowing their journey into and through employment is supported. Read the full report⬇️ opfs.org.uk/policy-and-c... #ImpactReport #SingleParents #FamilySupport #Scotland #OPFS
011
Reposted by Alison Watson
Scottish Refugee Council @scotrefugeecouncil.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
We've seen a lot of divisive language and misinformation about people seeking safety lately. This is the reality of claiming asylum and being a refugee in Scotland 👇
Graphic explains that people seeking asylum receive very little money from the government. UK asylum system support covers £9.95 weekly in hotels or £49.18 in self-catered housing.An asylum seeker is someone who has asked for protection in the UK and is waiting for the Home Office to make a decision on their claim. 

A refugee is someone whose claim has been accepted because they have proven they’re at risk of serious harm in their home country. Less than 7,000 people are seeking asylum in Scotland. People seeking asylum do not get priority access to housing or healthcare. People seeking asylum do not live in luxury hotels, they live in cramped hotel rooms with strangers. Infographic explaining why most refugees stay in neighboring countries and the UK hosts less than 1% of the world’s refugees due to connections and language.
112996
Reposted by Alison Watson
IPPR Scotland @ipprscotland.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
📰Great to see our work on the front page of @heraldscotland.bsky.social - finely reported by @andrewlearmonth.bsky.social ⤵️ www.heraldscotland.com/news/2598166...
heraldscotland.com
Scotland 'sleepwalking into austerity' with bid to axe 20,000 public sector jobs
Scottish Government plans to cut nearly 20,000 public sector jobs by the end of the decade cannot be done without cutting frontline services and…
026
Reposted by Alison Watson
Fraser of Allander Institute @fraserofallander.org · 31/03/2026
🎧️NEW PODCAST EPISODE 🎧️ Join us as we discuss the launch of our podcast series for the Senedd and Scottish Parliament elections. We discuss the main outputs from the project, the topics that will dominate the campaign and the fiscal context for the incoming governments. buff.ly/JdNSvyI
fraserofallander.org
2026 Scotland and Wales Election Analysis: Podcast Ep 1 | FAI
Join us as João Sousa from the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde and Ed Poole and Guto Ifan from the Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff University discuss the launch…
011
Reposted by Alison Watson
One Parent Families Scotland @opfs.org.uk · 31/03/2026
💰 Getting tailored, holistic support can change everything for single parents. Read the full report⬇️ opfs.org.uk/policy-and-c... #ImpactReport #EmploymentSupport #SingleParents #OPFS
031
Reposted by Alison Watson
CIH Scotland @cihscotland.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
📊 The Scottish government has published its latest quarterly house building and affordable supply statistics, showing a continued decline in housebuilding across the country. Read CIH Scotland's response in full ➡️ buff.ly/wr5ITU3
011
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
No political party has a credible plan to deliver the homes needed. Change is only possible if people demand it. 👉 shelterscotland.org/MSPEmail-BS
012
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
New figures from the Scottish Gov't shows they are on course to break their promise of building 110,000 affordable homes by 2032. Our next Parliament must deliver more social homes, urgently, at the scale needed to end the #HousingEmergency or homelessness will rise. shelterscotland.org/MAR26Supply
152
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
To every People's Postcode Lottery player, thank you for helping us fight the #HousingEmergency. 💛
011
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we’ve been able to offer solicitor‑supported appointments through our helpline. And they’re changing lives. This year, 48 people with critical housing issues attended specialist appointments, and all of them avoided eviction or secured accommodation.
121
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
In the final session in Parliament last week, Willie Rennie MSP put it simply: In the last 5 years, thousands of kids in Scotland have grown up, trapped in temporary accommodation. Whoever is elected in May must commit for that never to be repeated, for so many children to suffer for so long.
121
Reposted by Alison Watson
Scottish Refugee Council @scotrefugeecouncil.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
We’re calling on the next Scottish Government and all political parties to protect childhood for children and young people seeking safety. They should ensure that the rights of refugee and asylum-seeking childern are upheld, regardless of where they were born. Read more: ow.ly/b6fh50Ywrun
0102
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
🗳️ When your polling card comes through the door. Scotland faces a simple choice: Build the social homes it needs and end the #HousingEmergency, or let homelessness get worse. Demand our politicians make the right choice. 👉 shelterscotland.org/BuildSH-b
032
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
☝️ Clip credit and attribution: Contains information licensed under the Scottish Parliament Copyright Licence.
011
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
‘More Homes Scotland’ could shape the future of social housebuilding in Scotland. But clarity matters. ❤️ We’re grateful to @elenawhitham.bsky.social MSP who has kept housing & homelessness on the agenda up to the very last day, by asking key questions in Parliament about the agencies core mission.
131
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
⚠️ Unaffordable rents. Soaring house prices. 125,000 households waiting for a social home. This is the #HousingEmergency. And it affects us all. Join the Grans and demand the social homes Scotland needs. 👉 shelterscotland.org/BuildSH-b
032
Reposted by Alison Watson
The Poverty Alliance @povertyalliance.org · 22/03/2026
📖 Weekend reading! As part of our #RightsInAction project, we worked with people who are carers, or who are sick or disabled, and who have experience of the asylum system. This report uncovers the extra barriers they face to get health and social care. www.povertyalliance.org/research-fro...
Cover of Poverty Alliance report called From Rights to Realisation. Disabled people and carers navigating the asylum system. There is a graphic illustration showing a woman in a wheelchair, with another woman standing next to her with a hand on her shoulder. There is a care professional in green scrubs looking at them, and all of them are surrounded by question marks and twisty arrow, representing uncertainty and barriers.
051
Reposted by Alison Watson
The Poverty Alliance @povertyalliance.org · 23/03/2026
An important report from our friends at WeAll Scotland today. Inequality robs people of what they need to build a good life - and we all suffer as a result. 85% of people want urgent action for an equal society. Our next MSPs have a duty to act. www.weallscotland.org/post/sharing...
‘Public opinion in Scotland is not the barrier to action on wealth inequality... the political excuse no longer holds.’  Sharing our Wealth report quote. Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland logo.
031
Reposted by Alison Watson
Scottish Refugee Council @scotrefugeecouncil.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Scottish Parliament elections are coming up on May 7th, and refugees have the right to take part and cast their vote for the next Scottish Government. We've answered some frequently asked questions about elections and how to register on our website. Find out more: ow.ly/XZ1550YwVvi
0149
Reposted by Alison Watson
Satwat Rehman @satwatr.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
Powerful speech by @talatyaqoob.bsky.social at the anti racism march in Edinburgh yesterday. www.instagram.com/reel/DWMBjI8... ‘We are many many more than them. We will win’
164
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Homelessness isn’t just rough sleeping. It can mean sofa surfing, staying in a hotel, B&B or refuge, and more. But one thing stays the same: you have rights, and support is there to help you find a safe place to stay. Know your rights. 👉 shelterscotland.org/advice
012
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Find your nearest Shelter Scotland shop to donate to, here 👉 shelterscotland.org/ShopFinder
011
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Be honest… that impulse clothing purchase you instantly regretted could be someone else’s perfect weekend glam-up. ♻️ From your home to helping someone find theirs, donating your unwanted items to our shops helps us fight the #HousingEmergency. Spring it on! 🌱
111
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
🥜 The #HousingEmergency in a nutshell: Buying a home is too expensive and private rent is becoming increasingly unaffordable. Social housing, then, is the answer - except Scotland doesn't have enough of them. Stand with us and demand the social housing Scotland needs. 👉 shelterscotland.org/Act
011
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
If you have any issues with the link in the above post, here's an alternative link for the same roles from @goodmovesjobs.bsky.social 👉 goodmoves.org/vacancy/a4sP...
goodmoves.org
Trustee with Shelter Scotland – Goodmoves
As a result of planned retirements and Board renewal, we have two opportunities to join our Board as Trustees for Shelter Scotland:Role 1 TrusteeRole 2 Chair of the Scotland Committee and Vice-...
011
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Do you have the leadership, experience and ambition to help end Scotland’s #HousingEmergency? We have two key Trustee roles to help drive real change. 📅 Closes 6 April 👉 Info & apply: shelterscotland.org/HR03Mar
112
Reposted by Alison Watson
Shelter Scotland @shelterscotland.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Turning textile waste into runway fashion while supporting people facing homelessness. ♻️👗 That's what you get when sustainable fashion brand House of Black collabs with us. House of Black will donate all ticket proceeds to our Stockwell St. shop. 🖤 🔗 Tickets & Info: shelterscotland.org/HoBPPSS26
shelterscotland.org
Patchwork Pirates - S/S “26 Fashion Show | houseofblack
Join the Patchwork Revolution, come meet the Patchwork Pirates.
011