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

This month we will be emailing annual membership renewal invoices. VHS is working hard to represent, support and advocate for all its members during the current coronavirus crisis. We will continue to work with you to develop solutions to Scotland’s health challenges and help people live healthier, fairer lives, throughout this crisis and beyond. You are an important member of our dynamic and influential network and we value your continued membership. If you have difficulty paying the invoice right now, please contact us as we do not want to lose you as a member.

VHS News & Events

Impact of COVID-19 on Voluntary Health Organisations: Members zoom meeting
Join us on Thursday 23 April 10 - 11.15am on Zoom to discuss the findings in our briefing paper about the voluntary health sector responses to COVID-19.  VHS conducted a survey of our member organisations and wider network to help establish the impact COVID-19 is having on the health and wellbeing of people supported by organisations and on organisations’ own ability to continue supporting people. This briefing sets out the top-line results of the research and highlights the speed, creativity and flexibility that the third sector is demonstrating as it responds to the crisis, as well as the substantial challenges and barriers it is facing.
Read the VHS Briefing: Impact of COVID-19 on Voluntary Health Organisations
Places are capped & open to all full members  of VHS -  please Email Lauren to reserve a place.

Ageing Well virtual talks with the Open University
Join VHS and the Open University on Thursday 7 May 11.30am - 1.00pm for the first in a series of joint online events exploring ageing, health and wellbeing. This talk will be led by Dr Jitka Vseteckova from the OU with input from VHS members.
In this series we are exploring how important it is, over our lifespan, to maintain a well-balanced nutrition and hydration as well as regular physical and social activity in older age, also known as the 'Five Pillars of Ageing Well'. This first talk will cover basic biomedical and psycho-social aspects of ageing and age-related conditions such as bone health and frailty. What will the impact of Covid-19 be for ageing well?

To book a place at Ageing Well or to discuss any events or event idea suggestions, please Email Lauren.

Digitally Healthy: Members Zoom Meeting
VHS is hosting this joint meeting on 9 April with NES Digital Service - NHS National Education Scotland, to discuss the digital divide implications of Covid-19 on health. Key messages will be issued in due course. 

VHS working with Public Health Scotland on Covid-19
Public Health Scotland was formally launched on 1st April and has invited VHS to join two strategic 'cells' (work streams) focused on developing a coordinated public health response to the longer term consequences of the pandemic. VHS has joined the steering group of the Social Mitigation Cell and the coordination group of the Service Support and Recovery Cell. Our role will be to provide a third sector perspective and input to both cells as the work develops and to act as a conduit to and from our sector. We will post more information about this work on our website in the near future. 

VHS & ACOSVO Joint Zoom Meeting: Health Leaders
VHS are teaming up with ACOSVO to bring together third sector leaders of health organisations to discuss the impact of Covid- 19. Join us on Monday 27 April at 12 noon at this virtual meet up to discuss leadership with a particular focus on leading for health at this uncertain and turbulent time. The meeting is open to VHS members who have a leadership role in their organisation. Please email Lauren Blair to register or if you have any questions.

VHS Annual Conference & AGM 4 November 2020
Join us in Glasgow for #WeArePublicHealth: Creating Health and Wellbeing for All. 
With the advent of Public Health Scotland and a national set of public health priorities, is Scotland now set to re-focus its approach on prevention, protection and improvement of the nation’s health? We will provide an arena for people and organisations to discuss what we mean when we say #WeArePublicHealth. 
Opening keynote speakers: Angela Leitch,  Chief Executive, Public Health Scotland and Professor Kate Ardern, Director of Public Health, Wigan Council.
More programme and booking information to be announced soon.
To find out about sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact Lauren Blair.

VHS Annual Membership Research
VHS are designing some research in the form of a  mapping exercise of the Voluntary Health Sector beginning with our full members. The research will focus on our goal of establishing a comprehensive picture of the scale of the sector, the contribution it makes to people's health and wellbeing, the size of its paid and volunteer workforce, the number of people it supports, its monetary value and geographic reach. This research will also feed into VHS’s work to develop a new three year strategy. If you would like further information or would like to get involved with the research please contact: Kiren Zubairi Policy and Engagement Officer.

COVID-19 News

Coronavirus Third Sector Information Hub 
This SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) Hub is being updated daily with information, guidance & links to useful resources covering a variety of topics, as well as details of available funding for charities, community groups, social enterprises and voluntary organisations.

You can find and offer support on the 'Coronavirus Community Assistance Directory' and email to let them know the challenges/concerns your organisation has about the impact of coronavirus on services.

A new ‘Scotland Cares’ campaign has been launched to encourage people to volunteer during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic - find out more on the Ready Scotland website.

Chancellor announces aid to charity sector
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has announced a £750m rescue package for the charity sector. It is unclear exactly how much of this could benefit Scotland, though it includes £60 million for devolved administrations and 'further significant Barnett allocations, dependent on the final proposals funded, through the direct grant pot'. The UK Government will also match donations to the National Emergencies Trust as part of the BBC’s Big Night In fundraiser on 23 April – pledging a minimum of £20 million. 

Commenting on the importance of charities to the UK’s social fabric, the Chancellor  said that he would not be able to match every pound expected in fundraising this year, but pointed to the existing schemes that could also be accessed, including furloughing. He also welcomed the “kindness, decency and neighbourliness” that was at the heart of community efforts and said “we need the gentleness of charities in our lives”.

CAF Coronavirus Emergency Fund
The trustees at CAF have allocated £5 million to fund an emergency grant programme to support local frontline small charities that had income of £1 million or less last year affected by the impact of Covid-19. One-time grants of up to £10,000 are available to help organisations survive during the current health emergency. There is also a hub to provide the latest on funding and resources to help charities and social sector organisations throughout the pandemic.

Health Protection Scotland Guidance
HPS continues to update its guidance for health protection teams and healthcare practitioners as the situation evolves, as well as providing guidance for non-healthcare settings including schools, places of detention, and separate guidance for social care settings. Always check the HPS website to ensure that any guidance you are using is the latest version. Guidance you may find relevant includes Guidance for non-healthcare settings (last updated 24 March 2020) and Information and guidance for social or community care and residential settings (last updated 2 April 2020).

Poverty Alliance briefing: Community organisations, activists & the Coronavirus
This Poverty Alliance briefing summarises evidence about the impact the Coronavirus outbreak has had on their members, with a clear consensus among members that while welcome policy announcements have been made, much more needs to be done to protect society’s vulnerable citizens and front-line community workers from Covid-19 and its effects.

Advice for community organisations to work digitally
SCDC (Scottish Community Development Centre) is offering free guidance to community organisations to help them keep their communities connected using digital tools during the Covid-19 crisis.  They also want to hear about how you’re coping with these changes and what tools you’re using.

Inspiring Scotland launch COVID-19 charity support service 
To help ensure the Third Sector’s continued resilience, Inspiring Scotland have launched a free ‘Supporting Our Sector’ service. Scottish charities can book one-to-one remote sessions and receive tailored support with members of the Inspiring Scotland team free of charge. The focus is on helping charities navigate through the array of support, funding and services that are currently available to them. 

OSCR COVID-19 Guidance for Charities
This guidance brings together information charities need to know during COVID-19 and highlights other organisations who may be able to offer support.

Volunteering and coronavirus (COVID-19)
Volunteer Scotland have clear and accurate information that will help volunteers and volunteer involving organisations during coronavirus. Whether it's practical or emotional support, there are lots of ways to volunteer help, either now in helping to manage the crisis or in roles in the weeks and months to come. Contact Volunteer Scotland via email if you have any further questions.

Support for social care
The Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network (SPAEN) has succeeded in secured funding to extend the range of support services it can offer social care users during the Coronavirus crisis. With the support of FirstPort and working in partnership with health and social care partnerships (HSCPs) and other third sector organisations SPAEN will offer free, impartial advice and guidance to social care users across Scotland. Thanks to the donation of a web-based platform and mobile app from Our Community Hub, SPAEN has launched an emergency care register online.

SLIC - Provisions for those who collect hearing aid batteries from public libraries
The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) has confirmed that  all public libraries in Scotland have a record of who collects batteries from them, and are contacting people to make them aware of what alternative arrangement are in place for them.  The new arrangements consist of contacting their Health Board, arranging collection from a community hub, or arranging delivery of the batteries along with their food supplies.  In all cases, a supply of batteries is being issued so that people have enough to see them through the lockdown period. There is also a Signposting Resources page to support libraries to develop community services remotely.

Adopt An Intern
This small organisation offers a recruitment service for organisations - their Intern Hub, can offer remote staffing support for a range of tasks – which might be critical support if people become unwell in the areas they cover.

Policy News

Review of Mental Health Law in Scotland
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 your experience of mental health law in Scotland. Closes 29 May 2020

A 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 July 2020

National Planning Framework (NPF4)
Scottish Government want to hear about people’s thoughts and priorities for Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework. The call for ideas is open, and runs until 30 April.

The AI Of The Possible: Developing Scotland's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy
The strategy will help ensure that Scotland maximises the potential economic and social benefits of AI, and send a strong signal to the world about our ambition. Closes 8 May 2020

VHS Members' News & Events

Rob’s blog: Cancer Support Scotland – Here For Your Wellbeing
Rob Murray, Chief Executive of Cancer Support Scotland blogs on how COVID-19 has had a major impact on the way Cancer Support Scotland do business and their new organisation strategy, 'Here For Your Wellbeing'.

CHSS launch ‘Scotland Against Coronavirus’ volunteering campaign
Responding to the COVID-19 crisis Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland has launched the biggest volunteering drive in Scotland in a generation at Scotland Against Coronavirus  calling on people to help them build a movement of people coming together to fight coronavirus. They urgently need volunteers to help people to stay safe and well in their own homes.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Diabetes
If you have questions regarding Covid-19 and diabetes, please contact Diabetes Scotland - you can contact the team via email or Twitter or Facebook.  They also hope to offer online peer support via Zoom video chat in the coming weeks.  

Coronavirus and support for people with HIV, hepatitis C or sexual health
In response to coronavirus Waverley Care has extended its live chat service while in-person support services are suspended. That means people who need support or advice with HIV, hepatitis C or sexual health, can now speak to their sexual health advisors via live chat   between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Additionally,  they are adding and updating information relevant to people who need support with HIV, hepatitis C and sexual health across Scotland to their website on a daily basis.

The 12th Walking Cycling Connecting Communities National Active Travel Conference
This will take place in Perth on 15th September 2020. Celebrating over a decade of promotion and development of active travel in Scotland, the theme of the conference this year is ‘connecting communities sustainably’.  Registration for the conference is now open, with early-bird tickets available until 7th August (inclusive).

Relaxation in Just 3 Minutes
Regardless of what life is throwing just now, this 3 minute video from COPE Scotland will allow some time to quiet the inner mind and reflect on what you can put on hold for now, to create space to make time to look after you as well as others.

Other News

Evaluation framework for Scotland’s alcohol and drugs strategy published
NHS Health Scotland has published a framework to evaluate Rights, Respect & Recovery – Scotland’s strategy to improve health by preventing and reducing alcohol and drug use, harm and related deaths. The Monitoring & Evaluation of Rights, Respect & Recovery framework was developed with partners including Scottish Government, Information Services Division, Health Protection Scotland, Alcohol and Drug Partnerships, the third sector and people in our communities with lived experience.

Glasgow dementia charity wins top national award
Glasgow-based charity Playlist for Life has won a major national award for its work using personal music to help improve the lives of people with dementia and their families. It was chosen from more than 400 charities across the UK as one of the 10 winners of the 2020 GSK IMPACT Awards. 

Scottish Government news
Coronavirus Bill
Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for unpaid carers
Enhanced role for community pharmacists
National volunteering plan for coronavirus
Emergency help for those worse affected by coronavirus
Supporting people affected by alcohol and drug use

Dates for your diary
15 Sept WCCC National Active Travel conference 2020
23 Sept DIGITAL HEALTH & CARE 2020
4 Nov VHS Annual Conference & AGM

Other opportunities for VHS Members

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.