Welcome to our February 2020 E-bulletin: sharing news & views from the VHS network & updates from Scottish Government & the NHS affecting the voluntary health sector.

VHS News & Events

Volunteering in Health: help VHS evaluate the Clear Pathway Guidance
During February 2020 we are keen to hear from third sector organisations that actively recruit and engage volunteers in NHS settings, e.g. hospitals. If you are involved in this type of work please take a few minutes to complete our online survey which aims to understand awareness of the guidance and, where relevant, its impact on volunteering in NHS settings. 

VHS Members Consultation: Social Care in Scotland
On 7 February VHS hosted a  meeting for over 20 member organisations to hear more about the Health and Sport Committee's current Inquiry into Social Care.  Susan Brown, Assistant Clerk to the Committee, gave excellent guidance and advice on how charities could best focus their written responses. VHS will be using the discussion as a basis for our own response. We are happy to publish VHS member organisations' responses on our website, so please email yours to VHS.

VHS will be hosting 2 workshops at the Gathering 2020  in Glasgow
Shaping Primary Care for the next generation in rural Scotland, 19 Feb  @ 11:45 am - 12:45 pm
The Scottish Government’s vision for the future of primary care is for multi-disciplinary teams, made up of a variety of health professionals, working together to support people in their community and to give GPs more time to spend with patients in specific need of their expertise. But what does this mean in a rural context, and what role does the rural third and community sector have to play in helping transform primary care? Rural Scotland has a growing elderly population, increasing demand for treatment and care, a dispersed population and challenges associated with the workforce supply for health and social care – all combining to have an impact on primary care services. This workshop will be of particular interest to voluntary and community health organisations and third sector interfaces. It is a collaboration between VHS and the Scottish Rural Health Partnership.

Demonstrating Third Sector Impact on Inequalities, 20 Feb @ 9:30 am - 10:30 am
This interactive workshop will present a model to measure the third sector’s contribution to addressing inequalities, in particular health inequalities. The event is now fully booked, but we will share the resources on our website and in the March e-bulletin. 

Cross Party Group on Health Inequalities: Drugs, Deprivation, Discrimination and Disease
The Health Inequalities Cross Party Group will meet on the 14 May, 1.00 -2.30 pm to discuss Drugs, Deprivation, Discrimination and Disease. This meeting will be chaired by Donald Cameron MSP, Co-Convenor of the group. More information on speakers and the agenda soon.

Keeping the Conversation Going: What role does arts & culture play in addressing loneliness and social isolation?
Our collaborative event with Arts Culture Health and Wellbeing Scotland event on 31 March in Perth is fully booked and has a waiting list of nearly 70 people. If you  booked a place but no longer intend coming, please advise us asap so that we can release your place. Contact: VHS

Emma’s blog: Public Health and the Empowerment of Communities
The latest Blog on the VHS website is by Dr Emma Davies, Speciality Trainee in Public Health, based in NHS Grampian, discussing how Public Health Scotland and Public Health departments (based in NHS boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships) should be supporting community organisations in order to maximise opportunities to promote health.

Policy News

New Health and Sport Committee inquiry: Call for views - Social Care
The Health and Sport Committee is undertaking an inquiry into social care and the future delivery of social care in Scotland. They are  seeking views from people with lived experience of receiving adult social care or being a carer for someone receiving care.The call will close on 20 February 2020.

Consultation on the Draft Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland
The purpose of the draft Respiratory Care Action Plan is to highlight the Scottish Government’s vision for driving improvement in the diagnosis, care, treatment and support of people living with respiratory conditions in Scotland.  Closes 3 April 2020.

Review of Mental Health Law
A review is being carried out into the way mental health law is working in Scotland. This review was set up by the Scottish Government but it is independent from them. John Scott QC is leading the Review and wants to hear about experiences of mental health law in Scotland. If you prefer to speak to someone directly, contact the Mental Health Law Review team.

Vaccination Transformation Programme (VTP): modernising the delivery of vaccinations
If you are keen to know more about the VTP and about how new service delivery models are being developed, tested, implemented and supported to ensure the health of the Scottish public sign up to receive their e-newsletter.

NHS Health Scotland comment on the Long-term Monitoring of Health Inequalities report
The Long-term monitoring of health inequalities: January 2020 report  released by the Scottish Government today shows that health inequalities remain one of Scotland’s biggest challenges. Life expectancy trends in Scotland are no longer improving, and this is impacting disproportionately on our disadvantaged communities. The report shows that mortality rates amongst young and middle-aged adults is getting worse for many, and that inequalities are growing. NHS Health Scotland know that it is only by addressing the underlying causes of health inequalities – an unequal distribution of income, power and wealth – that they be reduced, and as a result, improve the trend in stalling life expectancy.

VHS Members' News & Events

Making Recovery Real - a new future for mental health
The Scottish Recovery Network has launched a series of reviews and resources from the Making Recovery Real initiative which highlight the need for a new collaborative approach to providing mental health support. Piloted in Moray and Dundee, Making Recovery Real focuses on the creation of conditions in which professionals and people with lived experience, can work and learn together to identify and prioritise what should happen in their community to support mental health and recovery.

Support in Mind Scotland named Lothian's Charity of Choice
Lothian have named SiMS as their Charity of Choice and Love Your Business have chosen SiMS as their business partner for 2020.  SiMS specialise in helping people with mental health issues, the aim is to improve the quality of life for anyone whose mental health problems or mental illness has a serious impact on their lives. They support 1,300 people each week. Frances Simpson, CEO: “ We look forward to raising mental health awareness  and promoting the work we do.”

Shelter Impact Report 2018-2019
The report summarises and analyses the work and impact of Shelter and Shelter Scotland in 2018/19, including their advice and support, campaigning and policy work and training for professionals.

Paths for All Walk at Work Award
The Walk at Work Award is an accreditation scheme, recognising organisations that support staff to be active in and around the working day. Paths for All provide guidance on planning your project, developing activities, improving facilities and signposting to resources. The Award helps workplaces to foster a walking culture that encourages and supports physical activity at work. 

Spokes Spring public meeting, Monday 23 March
More and more people are fighting for safer conditions to get around by bike – for the environment and climate, for health, for towns and cities not dominated by the car and for a happier life. Spokes public meeting will discuss how to get involved.

Other News

Final report of the independent inquiry into mental health services in NHS Tayside
The final report of the independent inquiry into mental health services in NHS Tayside has been published. The report makes more than 50 recommendations and highlights a “loss of trust” which has led to poor services and treatment. The recommendations focus on service design, clarity of governance and leadership responsibility, engaging with people, creating a learning culture and improving communication. NHS Tayside has welcomed the report which it “knew would be challenging”. 

Independent Care Review releases findings
The Independent Care Review has released its findings in five reports.  The Promise report outlines the views care experienced individuals  and outlines how Scotland can ensure its vulnerable children have the childhood they deserve. The Plan sets out how this change must happen, while the Money  and Follow the Money reports cover how the country can better invest in children and families. The final report, The Rules, explains the current legislative framework and how it must change. The Review,  concluded many young people are experiencing a “fractured, bureaucratic and unfeeling” care system.

 NHS Inform advice about Coronavirus
The NHS Inform guide gives advice on symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath and what to do next if you have developed any of the symptoms since arriving from an affected area.

Foundation Scotland funding programmes
Foundation Scotland offers a diverse range of funding programmes for organisations working to benefit a range of communities across Scotland. Some of these programme are Scotland wide and some are restricted to particular sectors and/or geographies.  Each programme has its own criteria and/or outcomes. For more info: 0141 341 4960 or email

PAHA (Physical Activity and Health Alliance) survey 
NHS Scotland are seeking views on what communication needs are required to support the development and delivery of physical activity policy and/or practice. Closing date for feedback is 21 February.

Social enterprise is a healthy enterprise
According to the latest figures from Social Enterprise Census 2019, health and social care is a growing core purpose for many social enterprises. 755 social enterprises work specifically in health and social care, that’s 13% of all social enterprises and a 21% increase since 2015.

NHS Health Scotland report on the effects of minimum unit pricing
A NHS Health Scotland commissioned report into the effects of minimum unit pricing (MUP) on young people who reported drinking alcohol has found it did not affect their “acquisition, consumption or related behaviours” either positively or negatively. The study found that money and price changes were not perceived to be barriers to drinking.

What has the Scottish Parliament done for equality?
SPICe (The Scottish Parliament Information Centre) blog on what has 20 years of having the Scottish Parliament done for equality in Scotland?

Exploring the role of the whole system approach for public health
Sharing ideas on how best to tackle Scotland’s public health challenges and reduce inequalities goes to the heart of the public health reform programme. In this episode of the Public Health Reform podcast Dr Rachel McAdams, discusses the benefits of whole system working to improve Scotland’s health.

The Scottish Deep End Project Ten Years On
Ten years on from the first conference of General Practitioners at the Deep End, Professor Graham Watt reflects on what has been achieved and what the future holds. GPs working in the project, an informal network of 100 practices working in the most deprived areas of Scotland, want the scheme to be rolled out further and campaigning for the expansion of financial advisers is one of the aims for the future.

Cyber Scotland Week
Scottish Government’s Cyber Resilience Unit, Cyber Resilience Scotland, has organised the second Cyber Scotland Week campaign, running Monday 17 – Sunday 23 February. The week aims to raise awareness of good cyber resilience, showcase the innovative work being done across Scotland’s cyber sector, and promote careers in cyber security.

Rethinking Remote 2020 Conference
The Scottish Rural Health Partnership will host their third Rethinking Remote conference focussing on innovative solutions in remote and rural health and wellbeing in Aviemore on 30 April & 1 May 2020. Open to all organisations or individuals interested in remote and rural health and wellbeing, the focus topics for 2020 are: Education, Technology, Clinical Care & Community Engagement.

The NHS Scotland Event 2020
Will take place on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow - Scotland’s key networking and educational event for those who work in and with NHS Scotland. In order to receive information relating to next year’s Event, as well as other events associated with NHS Scotland, you must register your interest here.

Scottish Government news
Scottish Budget 2020-2021
170,000 children eligible for new benefit
Let’s call periods, periods
More people giving CPR
£19 million CashBack funding allocated
Health and wellbeing as fundamental as GDP
Preventing harmful sexual behaviour
Welfare reform: impact report on benefits for disabled people
Long-term monitoring of health inequalities: January 2020 report
Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2020: ranks and domain ranks
Novel coronavirus testing

Dates for your diary

19 & 20 Feb VHS at SCVO The Gathering
20 Feb Creating stigma free spaces for people living with HIV
20 Feb Why fair dementia care
25 Feb Celebrating Community-led Health - CHEX turns 20 - follow @CHEX_Org
10 March Falkirk Funders Fayre
23 March SPOKES Public Meeting
1 April  QNIS Annual Conference Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
30 Apr-1 May Rethinking Remote Conference 2020
14 May CPG Health Inequalities: Drugs, Deprivation, Discrimination & Disease
3-5 June Sex, Drugs and Scotland's Health
4 Nov VHS Annual Conference & AGM

Other opportunities for VHS Members

Contract Opportunity - Truacanta Project
An opportunity has arisen to play a key role in the evaluation of a new community development project – the Truacanta Project. Launching officially in April 2020, the Truacanta Project will support five different communities to undertake local work aimed at improving people’s experiences of death, dying, loss and care. The communities will be supported with community development expertise and advice from the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care.

Newsdirect - Political Intelligence
Looking to promote your issues in the Scottish Parliament? Newsdirect is offering VHS members a discount on subscriptions on their daily parliamentary and political briefing, 'Health Today'.
Contact Newsdirect if you're interested in subscribing.

Smoking and Mental Health: IMPACT Training for Trainers
11 March 2020
Free, six-hour training for trainers to enable them to deliver IMPACT training on smoking and mental health is available for third-sector organisations. The IMPACT ‘Training for Trainers’ course is designed for all those who have a training remit within third-sector organisations or NHS services - the aim is to enable participants to deliver IMPACT training, complete associated administrative tasks, and to collate and report on evaluation feedback. Previous knowledge of issues relating to smoking and/or mental health is not required, but there is an expectation that participants will undertake additional self-study around both topics once they have completed this course.  Supplementary learning resources can be provided by ASH Scotland. The training comprises a one-hour online session (to be completed in advance) and a six-hour face-to-face session delivered in central Edinburgh.
For more information, please visit IMPACT or phone ASH Scotland on 0131 225 4725