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Let’s Be Heard issues call for submissions as listening project reaches participation milestone

Dr Alexandra Anderson, Head of Let’s Be Heard, the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry’s public participation project, is urging people across Scotland to share their experiences of the pandemic before the project’s national engagement phase ends on 20 December 2023.

The Inquiry is investigating Scotland’s devolved strategic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To inform its investigations and recommendations, the Inquiry is inviting anyone who was in Scotland, or affected by decisions made in Scotland, between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2022 to share their experiences of the pandemic through Let’s Be Heard.

More than 4,000 people have already shared their experiences of the pandemic, and the lessons they believe should be learned so that Scotland is better prepared in future.

In a video update, Dr Anderson says the Let’s Be Heard team is keen to hear more from particular communities to ensure the Inquiry’s investigations and recommendations are also informed by the specific impacts of the pandemic on members of these groups.

Dr Anderson said: “Thousands of people across Scotland have shared their experiences with us and I would like to thank them for helping inform the Inquiry’s investigations.

“Let’s Be Heard is the main way for individuals to engage with the Inquiry and provides an opportunity for everyone to make sure their voice is heard. Everyone’s experience is important and valuable to the Inquiry. You don’t need to have had COVID to take part and your experience doesn’t have to be particularly positive or negative. Whatever your experience, we want to hear from you before our national engagement phase ends on 20 December.”

In particular, the Let’s Be Heard team would like to hear more from people from some specific groups, including:

  • men;
  • people from minority ethnic communities;
  • LGBTQ+ people;
  • people from minority religious communities;
  • people aged under 20 and over 70; and
  • people who don’t feel financially secure.

And from people living in: 

  • North and South Lanarkshire;
  • Renfrewshire;
  • Glasgow City;
  • West Lothian; and
  • Highlands and Islands.

To find out more, and make your voice heard, visit the Let’s Be Heard website.