At SAVVI, we are delighted to announce that the Improvement Service (IS) has received funding from the Scottish Government to establish a SAVVI Team for Scotland! This is a significant step in the current phase of the SAVVI project, which is about more widespread adoption.

SAVVI, which stands for Scalable Approach to Vulnerability Via Interoperability, is a transformative approach that enables councils and their partners to proactively identify and support vulnerable people before they reach crisis point; not just when they’re facing the consequences. 

Take child poverty, for example. The SAVVI approach is being used in Scotland to find ways of reaching families before they face eviction or bankruptcy, before they are forced to rely on food banks, and before stress and impossible choices take a toll on their mental or physical health. By intervening earlier, councils can not only prevent unnecessary hardship but also help the use of resources more efficiently – delivering support where and when it’s needed most. 

The SAVVI pilot in Scotland was so successful that a dedicated SAVVI team for Scotland is being formed. This team will consist of a Transformation Coach, an Information Governance Expert, and a Technical Expert. This team will be trained in SAVVI methodology, and will be deployed across Scotland to support councils and their partners in navigating the legal, ethical, and technical challenges of using data to identify those at risk. Vitally, SAVVI Scotland will work collaboratively – bringing together local partners, service delivery experts, data officers, and information governance leads. This is because no single organisation or service holds all the data on vulnerability, and none can tackle it alone. 

The IS has already used the SAVVI approach to move towards the identification of families at high risk of poverty and connect them with financial support. Now, with additional funding, the SAVVI Scotland team will expand its focus to other areas of vulnerability. Over time these might include, for example, school readiness, mental health challenges or risk from fire or flood. Their central mission is to help local and national partners identify those in need early and develop coordinated, multi-agency responses that make a real difference. 

SAVVI UK has been invited to support the recruitment of the team, and will be involved in training and supporting Scotland to build their own capability. This is a significant step for the SAVVI UK project because it is the first major adoption of SAVVI beyond the SAVVI pilots and projects delivered by the core SAVVI team. Our goal is for SAVVI to be widely adopted as the main standard for using data to support vulnerability, with wide and continued support for it across Local Government, Central Government and the tech Industry.

Now is a great opportunity to join the SAVVI team in Scotland. Take a look at the job adverts and share with anyone who might be interested in the roles. If you’re interested in applying for one of the posts, take a look at the adverts on the Improvement Service website. The application deadlines are all in early June 2025.

Want to find out more? 

If SAVVI interests you, here’s how to learn more: 

Contact Hanna McCulloch, National Coordinator for Local Action on Child Poverty (for SAVVI Scotland) at: hanna.mcculloch@improvementservice.org.uk 

Contact Shelley Heckman, iStandUK (for SAVVI UK) at: info@savviuk.org 

Explore the SAVVI Playbook for real-world examples 

Watch SAVVI explainer videos that break down the approach

Read the SAVVI in Scotland Rural Child Poverty Case Study

Get Involved by joining one of the SAVVI UK groups 

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