foreCASt: election insights | Citizens Advice Scotland

foreCASt is a popular and engaging webinar series from Citizens Advice Scotland that showcases insight into the key issues affecting people in Scotland and the solutions needed to improve people's lives.

In the run up to the Holyrood elections, we are ran foreCASt: election insights - a mini-series focused on the key policies and actions we need to see from the next Scottish Government. The 2026 Scottish Parliament election is happening at a critical time. People across Scotland are facing deepening and entrenched crises as thousands of households do not have enough income to live decent and dignified lives. Change is needed and is possible.

foreCASt: eradicating poverty hustings

The fifth episode of our election insights series exploring how we can eradicate poverty.

This episode was a live hustings during which we heard from experts across the Citizens Advice Scotland and Trussell's shared networks. We then heard from representatives from the largest political parties in Scotland, presenting their policies and visions for a Scotland free from poverty, followed by a Q&A.

foreCASt: forgotten populations

The fourth episode of our election insights series exploring forgotten populations.

We have also published a briefing which summarises our asks to the next Scottish Government - Election Insights: Forgotten Populations. Please use this briefing to share in your own work with decision makers and candidates so that we can secure the change we need to see.

foreCASt: transition to net zero

The third episode of our election insights series exploring the transition to net zero, examining the issues people across Scotland are facing around fuel poverty and energy efficiency and what's needed to enable all communities to be able to access and benefit from decarbonisation. You can find the slide deck for this episode here.

We have also published a briefing which summarises our asks to the next Scottish Government - Election Insights: Just Transition. Please use this briefing to share in your own work with decision makers and candidates so that we can secure the change we need to see for a just transition.

foreCASt: advice that changes lives - maximising incomes

The second episode of our election insights series exploring maximising incomes as a tool for tackling poverty and the essential role that advice services and social security play in this. You can find the slide deck for this episode here.

We have also published a briefing which summarises our asks to the next Scottish Government - Election Insights: Maximising Incomes. Please use this briefing to share in your own work with decision makers and candidates so that we can secure the change we need to see on tackling poverty in Scotland.

foreCASt: public debt and financial security

The first episode of our election insights series exploring the depth and scale of public debt in Scotland, looking at who is being affected and how, alongside the solutions available to help improve financial security. You can find the slide deck for this episode here.

We have also published a briefing which summarises our asks to the next Scottish Government - Election Insights: Public Debt. Please use this briefing to share in your own work with decision makers and candidates so that we can secure the change we need to see on public debt in Scotland.