This is a classic Taking Action podcast. It focusses on the `Talbot Association(https://talbotassociation.org/news) which works with the most vulnerable people in Glasgow. It is an organisation which takes action every day to assist homeless people and its work deserves to be highlighted. Michael O'Neill does much more than talking about the Association. He takes us into some really important territory which we don't explore enough. He talks about the complexity of the people that the Association supports, the wide range of needs that they have and the challenges that they present. He talks about the response to that within communities where the "most vulnerable" can face as much resentment and empathy. We discuss the othering and hostility that they can experience and the pressure that this puts on workers and volunteers who are doing their best to support them.

We talk further about the growing crisis in the care sector where it is increasingly difficult to staff organisations like the Talbot Association. as part of this we discuss the motivation of some of those drawn into this sort of work who carry their own trauma. Often they are attempting to pay back the assistance that they received, but remain vulnerable themselves. We explore the idea that "hurt people help people" at least as much as they might hurt people, yet the support for these colleagues and, indeed, for all those working in demanding contexts is, simply, not there in too many cases.

Michael offers a remarkable blend of realism, a willingness to be open about the difficulties faced by the care sector, and a sense of optimism and hope. The abiding message is powerful. We need to ask ourselves how far we are prepared to make the sort of investment that will make Scotland a more compassionate and equal society