Welcome to our September 2020 E-bulletin: sharing news & views from the VHS network & updates from Scottish Government & the NHS affecting the voluntary health sector.
Thank you to all our members who have rejoined - if you have not done so yet but intend to renew please do get in touch. 
If you would like to join the VHS network  - Get Involved here

VHS News & Events

VHS Members Meet Up: Recovery and Renewal
We invite VHS members to a networking discussion on 6 October to explore your current preoccupations about the continuing pandemic and your hopes, fears and plans for the future. VHS is contributing to a number of Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland COVID-19 working groups now focused on mobilisation, recovery and renewal in relation to Scotland’s health and wellbeing. This discussion will help us build strong evidence and ideas from the third sector to help influence this policy making, as well as giving  the opportunity for sharing and discussion with other organisations.

Cross Party Group on Health Inequalities: October Meeting & AGM 13 October 2020
Join us for the Health Inequalities CPG October meeting and AGM on the 13th October online meeting via Zoom. The meeting will be chaired by Group Co-Convenor Anas Sarwar MSP.

#WeArePublicHealth: Building Forward for Health and Wellbeing
Our 2020 Annual Conference will take place online over 2 days on the 4 and 5 November, with 4 sessions to allow flexible access and options for joining us. With home working still the default position for many, we’re bringing you the best of our event in a bite size format. As ever you’ll have the opportunity to listen, share ideas and thinking, network and discuss. It is one of the leading health events in Scotland, bringing together stakeholders from across the third and community sectors, Public Health Scotland, NHS, national and local government, other public bodies, and academia.

As we continue to live with the COVID-19 pandemic how do we ensure that our experience and learning are what shapes the future for health and wellbeing, the right to health, and health inequalities? The voluntary health sector pivoted rapidly to plug the gaps and provide vital emergency responses to pressing new needs as soon as lockdown and social distancing came into force. We know our role remains pivotal now the agenda is one of remobilisation, recovery and building back better, and that’s an exciting but challenging agenda.

The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government includes a commitment to ‘continue to develop a world‑class public health service that builds on our COVID‑19 response’. As we head towards the winter and a likely second wave of  the virus, what questions do we need to ask? Has the pandemic shifted our understanding and appreciation of public health for good? How do we empower people and communities to contribute to as well as benefit from public health? Let’s discuss what needs to happen to make public health partnership working with third sector organisations the new norm so we can ‘build forward’ together.

More programme and booking information to be announced - meanwhile 'Keep the Dates 4 & 5 November' in your calendar.

To find out about sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, contact Lauren Blair.

VHS AGM
The 16th VHS AGM will take place on the 5 November 2020 by Zoom. Formal notification and details of the AGM will be sent to members separately in due course.

VHS Board Vacancies
We anticipate there will be 1 or 2 vacancies for new Board members. If you are a full member of VHS and are  interested in nominating yourself or a colleague please email Claire Stevens, VHS CEO, to register your interest and for further information.

Currently we are especially interested in anyone who has skills or expertise in: communications/media/PR, digital leadership/development, business development, membership services development.

Please email to confirm if you are a full member, if you are not sure.

Ageing Well: 5th Talk with the Open University
Join VHS and the Open University on the 14 October for the fifth in a series of joint online events exploring ageing, health and wellbeing.   The lecture: 'Move it and Breathe',  will explore what we need to consider around physical activity and movement.

Ageing Well: 4th Virtual Talk with the Open University
View the presentation slides here from the 4th lecture in the series which covered age-related changes affecting hydration, kidney & liver function, medication /polypharmacy.

COVID-19 News

For up-to-date information and news on Coronavirus/COVID-19:

• World Health Organisation
• NHS Inform
• Health Protection Scotland
• Scottish Government
• National helpline established for those who do not have family or community support

Public Health Scotland launches COVID-19 data dashboard
Public Health Scotland (PHS) has launched a dashboard based on COVID-19 cases reported by NHS Scotland and UK Government Regional Testing Centre laboratories.  

Coronavirus Third Sector Information Hub 
This SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) Hub is updated daily with information, guidance & links to useful resources, including funding information. It has been updated with key areas to consider as lockdown rules relax.

Independent Age Grants Fund
Independent Age has opened the final round of this Fund for applications. The Fund aims to help smaller organisations support older people most affected by COVID-19: those living in complex and challenging situations, or in danger of being overlooked. Organisations can apply for grants of up to £15,000. Deadline: 9am 11th September.

Foyle Foundation Small Grants Scheme
The Small Grants Scheme is designed to support registered charities, especially those working at grass roots and local community level across a wide range of activities. The priority will be to support local charities active in their communities which are currently delivering services to the young, vulnerable, elderly, disadvantaged or the general community either directly or through online support.

Creating a COVID-19 Archive
The archive of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) is documenting the COVID-19 pandemic for posterity, ensuring that researchers in the future are able to understand the impact of the pandemic on people's lives. They have put out a call to third sector organisations for any printed promotional material or other documentation (videos, written guidance etc.) which organisations would be willing to donate to their archive. They are particularly interested in hard copy rather than digital material, as the British Library and the National Library of Scotland are mass-archiving material online relating to COVID-19 whereas hard copy material and anything not on the web isn’t being captured. Material donated to RCPE would not be used for any promotional purpose or shared online or used in any profit making way; it would solely be preserved for access by future medical and historical researchers. 
If you are able to donate anything, please email RCPE Archivist  

How communities are responding to Covid-19
Public Health Scotland would like to understand more about how communities have responded to the impact of Covid-19 and are looking for examples in two areas:  how communities have adapted to the challenge of how we get around and examples of how communities and organisations have used their local areas differently by adapting streets and spaces. If you have examples to share you can submit your information to CHEX.

Scotland's food system and Covid-19
The Scottish Food Coalition wants to hear about the impact on the ground of the Covid-19 crisis on Scotland's food system. They want stories of challenges and resilience, with one picture, or a short video, sharing your experience of the Covid-19 emergency and its effect on the food system. The SFC will gather this evidence and share it with policy-makers, making a stronger case for investing in a fairer, healthier and more sustainable future for Scotland's food system.

Supercharged: A Human Catastrophe Inequalities, Participation and Human Rights before, during and beyond COVID19
COVID19 has supercharged inequalities and hit disabled people harder than most. Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA) harnessed the voices and lived experience of their members to mobilise a COVID-response led by disabled people and are now calling for an Inquiry into the unequal impact of the pandemic.

Scottish Recovery Network - staying connected during and after the COVID-19 lockdown
SRN recently ran a programme of online conversation cafes where people from across Scotland; particularly those living with mental health challenges came together to talk about staying well during and after the COVID-19 lockdown. The experiences, insights and learning shared during the cafes is captured in a report, podcast and animation which you can access here .

Policy News

Programme for Government promises protection and renewal
Claire Stevens, VHS CEO highlights the commitments  in the recently published Programme for Government 2020-21  directly relating to health and wellbeing, though other parts of the programme are relevant as well, particularly in relation to the underlying social and economic determinants of health. 

Food Insecurity call for views
The Public Health Scotland sub-group exploring the impact of COVID-19 on Food Insecurity is looking to hear from the third sector about different types of partnerships working and innovation being used to deliver support to people experiencing food insecurity. If you would like to share information then please get in touch: VHS

Equalities and human rights survey 
This Equalities and Human Rights Committee survey is to find out the impact the #COVID19 pandemic is having on equalities and human rights. Closes 1 Jan 2021

Health Policy Officers Network
The HPON is a peer group of health policy officers jointly administered by VHS and RNIB Scotland. The network is for small to medium sized third sector organisations and Members come together to discuss health related policy issues and consultations, to share intelligence, and build their policy skills and confidence. To join the HPON or find out about future meetings email, Policy Engagement Officer.  

VHS Members' News & Events

Paths for All: Humans of the Walk campaign
Have you enjoyed walking during lockdown? This Paths for All campaign wants you to share your stories and photographs of the life-changing ways walking helped during lockdown, to inspire people to keep walking and walk more regularly. For your chance to win prizes, post a portrait photo on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #HumansOfTheWalk, explaining what walking has meant to you during lockdown and beyond. The competition runs until 18 September. 

The stories we tell
People living with dementia are amongst the worst affected by the pandemic in society and hearing people’s experiences made Alzheimer Scotland realise that their stories needed a voice - based on real experiences they hope 'The stories we tell' will act as a catalyst for others to understand. 

Staying Connected: What people are doing to stay well
New resources from the Scottish Recovery Network share insights and inspiration from people across Scotland on staying well during and after the COVID-19 lockdown.

Reducing the harm and inequality caused by tobacco
ASH Scotland has new, free online Introductory Sessions for organisations working with children, families, young people or disadvantaged adults. Designed to briefly introduce how tobacco is relevant to your work and the people you support, how you can take action in response, and how ASH Scotland can support you in reducing the harm and inequality caused by tobacco.

Challenge Poverty Week 2020
Challenge Poverty Week 2020 takes place from 5 - 11 October. Participating in Challenge Poverty Week is one of the best ways to help showcase and support solutions to poverty and can be a great way to highlight the work of your organisation. Find out how to make an impact: free online Get Involved Meetings.

Other News

The Scottish Charity Awards 2020 finalists have been announced!
Best of luck to all those organisations and individuals nominated for The Scottish Charity Awards, celebrating the best of Scotland’s voluntary sector. 

GSK IMPACT Awards
Applications are now open for the 2021 GSK IMPACT Awards. Winning organisations will receive core funding of up to £40,000, plus access to excellent training and development to support their leaders.The deadline for applications is 5pm on 14 September 2020.

"Rural Matters" report launch
Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP)  invites you to join them online on 23 September for the launch of ‘Rural Matters’ report: Understanding alcohol use in rural Scotland: Findings from a qualitative research study. The report is the culmination of five community consultations and 25 qualitative interviews with healthcare professionals, service providers, recovery community members and fellowship members working and living in rural and remote areas of Scotland. Register for the event here 

STILL Going Project
Want to stay active, healthy and independent in later life? Take part in the STILL Going Project: this  2 year Scottish Government funded research project at Strathclyde University, with national partners Paths for All and Age Scotland, is investigating what supports active ageing.  Using the free Lifecurve App which allows people to find out how they are ageing and then select from a range of activities, information and advice to help them maintain or improve their Lifecurve status. For more information email 

The Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) publishes Corporate Plan for 2020-23
The plan sets out theIr strategic direction of business and introduces their new vision for ‘a trusted and respected Scottish charity sector which positively contributes to society’.

Phase 2 of the Connecting Scotland programme launched
Around 23,000 low income households without proper internet access will be helped to get online with the assistance of £15 million of Scottish Government funding. Households will get a device, twelve months unlimited data as well as technical support to get online safely and securely.

Scottish Government news
Protecting Scotland, Renewing Scotland: The Government's Programme for Scotland 2020-2021
Community optometrists to support eye care services
Scotland remains in Phase 3
Continued fall in teenage pregnancy rate
Plan to remobilise and re-design cancer care
Connecting Scotland
Scotland’s COVID-19 Testing Strategy
Framework for supporting people through Recovery & Rehabilitation during & after the COVID-19 Pandemic
£2.9 million more for social care
More people to get free flu jab
Treating cystic fibrosis

Dates for your diary
10 Sept World Suicide Prevention Day
7-11 Sept ALLIANCE Annual Conference 7-11
5 - 11 Oct Challenge Poverty Week 2020 
6 Oct VHS Members Meet Up: Recovery and Renewal
13 Oct CPG on Health Inequalities: October Meeting & AGM
14 Oct Ageing Well: 5th Talk with the Open University
4 & 5 Nov VHS Annual Conference and AGM
18 Nov Health, Human Rights, & Hope Families Outside Conference

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.