A leaked report produced by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has called for the Scottish Government to write off around 210,000 hours of community service. The report has been produced in a background where many individuals have been unable to participate as anticipated in their community service as a result of COVID-19.
The document states that the estimated current backlog of community service hours is “approximately 700,000 hours”. Social Work Scotland is quoted in the report as stating that “some 450,000 hours will not be able to be serviced in any reasonable time frame. Cosla recommended to the Scottish government that they consider the SWS proposals believing that a reduction of around 30 per cent of unpaid work hours would be very helpful”.
It has been reported that the Scottish Government has responded positively to this proposal.