Core Participants

Core participants have a central role in public inquiries and are afforded particular rights, as explained in the Inquiry’s Core Participant Protocol.

This includes:

  • making statements when the Inquiry holds public hearings, unless the Chair directs otherwise; 
  • proposing questions for Counsel to the Inquiry to ask witnesses; 
  • with the Chair’s permission, asking questions of witnesses at a public hearing; and
  • being provided with advance copies of the Inquiry’s reports relating to their interest in the Inquiry.

The Inquiry has published the list of those who have been designated as a core participant below

It is not necessary for everyone wishing to be involved in the Inquiry to require core participant status. Visit the Get Involved section of the website to find out other ways to engage with the Inquiry. 

List of Core Participants

Lord Brailsford, Chair to the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry, has granted Core Participant status to the following individuals and organisations, according to their allocated Terms of Reference:

Core ParticipantAllocated Terms of Reference
ALLIANCE (Health and Social Care Alliance)d, f and h
Association of Scotland’s Self Caterersl
Bereaved Relatives Group (Skye) b, c, e, g, h and i
Care Home Relatives Scotland (CHRS) and CHRS loved onesa, b, c, d, e, g, h and i
Central Scotland Care Homes (CSCH)c, d, e, g, h and i
City of Edinburgh CouncilAll terms of reference
College of Paramedicsa, c, e, f, g, h, i and k
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA)a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, j, k and l
East Dunbartonshire CouncilAll terms of reference
Families of Children with Additional Support Needsa, b, c, f, g, h, j, k and l
Glasgow City CouncilAll terms of reference
Glasgow Disability Alliancea, b, d, e, h, j and k
Healthcare Improvement Scotlandg, h and i
Highlands and Islands Enterprise j and l
Homeless Network Scotlandb, c, d, e, f, g, h, j and l
Independent Care Homes Scotlanda, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j and l
Law Society of Scotlanda, b, g, i and l
Long Covid Kids Scotlandb, c, d, e, h, k and l
NHS National Services Scotlanda, b, c, d, e, f, g, h and i
NHS Territorial Health Boards and Special Health Boardsa, c, d, e, g, h, i and k
PAMISa, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, and k
Public Health Scotlanda, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i and k
Refugees for Justicea, b, c, f, h and j
Royal College of Nursinga, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i and k
Scotland Excele, h and j
Scottish Carea, b, c, e, g, h, i and l
Scottish Covid BereavedAll terms of reference
Scottish Enterprisee and l
Scottish Federation of Housing Associations a, b, c, e, f, j and l
Scottish Hazardsa, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, k and l
Scottish Healthcare Workers Coalitiona, b, c, d, e, g, h, i, j and l
Scottish MinistersAll terms of reference
Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)b and k
Scottish Trades Union CongressAll terms of reference
Scottish Vaccine Injury Groupd
Scottish Women's Rights Organisations (SWRO) - Scottish Women's Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland, Engender, Close the Gap, and JustRight Scotlandb, h, j, k and l
The Care Inspectoratee, g, h and k
The Church of Scotlandb, e, g, h, i, j and l
The Scottish Police Federationa, b, c, d, e and l
The Society of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officersa, b, c, d, e, f and l 
VisitScotlandb and l
Download a copy of this list as a PDF

All applicants for core participant status have been notified of the Chair's decision. 

There may also be opportunities for individuals and organisations that have not already done so to apply for core participant status at various stages of the Inquiry.

Further information will be made available in the news section of the Inquiry website regarding any such additional opportunities, as appropriate.

Visit our news section for the latest updates

How to apply for funding as a core participant or witness

The Inquiry's Funding Protocol and application process can be found on our Protocols, Notices and Orders page

Protocols, Notices and Orders