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.   

Lord Brailsford, Chair of the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry, has granted core participant status to the following individuals and organisations:  

 

  • Scottish Covid Bereaved (formerly Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Scotland);
  • Care Home Relatives Scotland (CHRS) and CHRS Lost Loved Ones;
  • The group comprising bereaved relatives, current/former care home staff and the Community Response Team (Skye);
  • The Scottish Vaccine Injury Group;
  • Kirsty Solman (the lay representative of a group of families who have children with additional support needs);
  • Scottish Ministers;
  • Scottish Enterprise;
  • VisitScotland;
  • The Scottish Qualifications Authority;
  • NHS National Services Scotland;
  • NHS Territorial Health Boards and Special Health Boards;
  • The Care Inspectorate;
  • Healthcare Improvement Scotland;
  • Public Health Scotland;
  • The Royal College of Nursing Scotland;
  • The College of Paramedics;
  • Scottish Care;
  • ALLIANCE (Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland)
  • The Scottish Police Federation;
  • The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC);
  • COSLA;
  • Glasgow City Council;
  • East Dunbartonshire Council;
  • City of Edinburgh Council;
  • Scottish Hazards;
  • Independent Care Homes Scotland;
  • rradar (Scotland) Limited (representing a group of five private sector Care Home operators);
  • Glasgow Disability Alliance;
  • The Church of Scotland (including its Social Care Council operating under the name CrossReach);
  • Refugees for Justice;
  • Scotland Excel;
  • The Law Society of Scotland; and 
  • Long Covid Kids Scotland.

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 applied already to apply for core participant status at a later stage of the Inquiry. Further information will be made available on the Inquiry website regarding any such additional opportunities, as appropriate. 

Can I still take part in the Inquiry without being a core participant? 

It is not necessary for everyone wishing to be involved in the Inquiry to require core participant status.   

Everyone in Scotland will have the opportunity to be part of the Inquiry and to:  

  • participate in the forthcoming listening project and tell us about your experience;  

  • keep up-to-date with our progress through the website; 

  • respond to our requests for written evidence and documentation; 

  • watch public hearings, which we intend to livestream and make available on the Inquiry website (except for any hearings being held in private); 

  • read transcripts of hearings and any documents (including expert reports) published on our website; 

  • read any witness statements published on the Inquiry website; 

  • where invited by the Inquiry, give evidence as a witness at a public hearing; and 

  • read records and documents published as part of our investigation, and reports.  

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 and Notices page.