Hard Edges Scotland is a landmark 2019 research study that investigates severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) across the country. The report looks at how issues like homelessness, substance misuse, and criminal justice contact overlap and trap vulnerable people.  
The project was authored by researchers at [Heriot-Watt University](https://www.hw.ac.uk/research-enterprise/research/social-justice-and-equality/hard-edges-severe-and-multiple-disadvantage) and funded by [Lankelly Chase](https://lankellychase.org.uk/publication/hard-edges-scotland-summary-report/) and [The Robertson Trust](https://www.therobertsontrust.org.uk/publications/so-what-happens-next-hard-edges-scotland).  

Key Findings

*   **Scale of Disadvantage:** One in 28 adults in Scotland (nearly 200,000 people) face extreme disadvantage each year.
*   **Core Disadvantage Breakdown:** Annually, 5,700 adults face three core issues (homelessness, offending, and substance dependency), 28,800 face two, and 156,700 face one.
*   **Broader Impact:** The numbers jump to 450,000 people when adding mental ill-health and domestic abuse.
*   **Poverty** is a significant background factor, which emerges ever more strongly the closer one focuses on the most extreme forms of SMD.

Main Problems Highlighted

*   **Crisis-Driven Access:** People often cannot get help until they reach a breaking point.
*   **Single-Issue Systems:** Public and charitable services often focus on only one problem at a time, failing to match people's complex realities.

**In particular, the report illustrates the mismatch between the multiple disadvantages people face and the fact that services are often set up to address ‘single issues’** - **there is a need for more people-focused and connected systems of services, timely multi-sectoral interventions for people with complex needs, and a ‘no wrong door’ approach**

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## About SCVO

SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) is the national membership organisation for Scotland's voluntary sector.

Our role is to champion the role of voluntary organisations in Scotland and to support them to do work that has a positive impact.

SCVO supports members and the wider voluntary sector with all aspects of setting up and running a voluntary organisation. SCVO represents the needs and concerns of the voluntary sector to the Scottish government in Holyrood and UK government and Westminster. Through our learning and events programme SCVO offers training and development opportunities to the sector.

Members access an extensive membership benefits package including specialist, in-depth, 1-to-1 guidance from our Information Services team and from professional service partners.

Access to exclusive membership networks (including comms, employers, governance and policy) supports members to grow their connections, stay up to date, exchange ideas and views with peers, and learn through tailored, learning opportunities.

SCVO members enjoy free access to Funding Scotland Premium to stay on top of funding opportunities to support their organisation’s financial resilience.

Discounts and savings savings on SCVO products and services (including our HR service, managed IT support, payroll service and events and training) and partner offers provide members with support to allow them to focus on delivering their organisation’s goals. Further SCVO products and services include [extensive digital support](https://scvo.scot/support/digital), a climate action resource [Growing Climate Confidence](https://climateconfident.scot), a voluntary sector publication [Third Force News](https://tfn.scot) and a voluntary sector jobs and recruitment service [Goodmoves](https://goodmoves.org).

For more information on SCVO membership, visit [SCVO membership](https://scvo.scot/membership)