Welcome to our December 2019 E-bulletin: sharing news & views from the VHS network & updates from Scottish Government & the NHS affecting the voluntary health sector.

VHS News & Events

Public Health Reform
Progress in ensuring the new strategic agency Public Health Scotland is operational by 1 April continues to move forward, with Angela Leitch now in post as their first Chief Executive. Angela was formerly Chief Executive of East Lothian Council. 170 people have applied for positions on the board. VHS continues its role in ensuring the third sector has a strong voice in the reform process, and our Chief Executive Claire Stevens is a member of the Public Health Advisory Board. Claire joined the recent Directors of Public Health meeting focused on implementation of the 6 national public health priorities, and this month is attending the Public Health Scotland’s Shadow Executive Management Team event focused on testing out a set of principles for Population Integrated Care. 

Lessons from WHO: Healthy Prosperous Lives for All
What will it take to ensure healthy, prosperous lives for all across Europe?
At our recent Scottish Parliament reception to celebrate the work of the Cross Party Group on Health Inequalities, Dr Johanna Hanefeld, as a representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Health Equity in Europe Initiative, gave a presentation on the theme of healthy, prosperous lives for all: the five barriers that hold people back from good health, the six key challenges that stop us getting it right, and the three solutions to eradicating health inequalities.

VHS Annual Lecture and AGM 2019
Many thanks to everyone who attended our AGM and annual lecture last month at the Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh. We heard  from: Dr William Bird MBE, CEO and Founder of Intelligent Health, GP, creator of Green Gyms, Beat the Street & Health Walks and Dr Roy Robertson, GP and Professor of Addiction Medicine, Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh. Read the key points from their presentations here.

Date for your diary
Our Annual Conference and AGM in 2020 will be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on Wednesday 4 November -  more details in due course.

Falling Off a Cliff at 65: Mental Health in Later Life
During 2019 VHS has collaborated with Support in Mind Scotland and colleagues from across the third and public sectors, to scope what happens to people with mental health conditions once they become 65. There is an urgent need to shine a light into the difficulties which some people face at age 65  if they either have a long-standing mental health condition like schizophrenia or if they develop one like depression or anxiety. We have now held two round tables and commissioned two evidence reports on this topic, which together are helping us build the case for change. Click here to read more about this work and the evidence gathered so far.

What works in culture, health and wellbeing?
In November VHS exhibited a poster  at the annual Faculty of Public Health Scotland conference in Dunblane on the theme of culture, health and wellbeing. It was designed for us by Artlink Edinburgh and was accompanied by a briefing paper. In the final plenary session, keynote speaker Leonie Bell, Strategic Lead at the Paisley Partnership, praised VHS for the work we have been leading  in this area.

Scottish Coalition for Physical Activity and Long Term Conditions
VHS has joined this new coalition of charities, launched in Stirling last month. The aim is to engage with and influence policies and initiatives that support people with long term conditions to enjoy the benefits of physical activity, as there is now compelling evidence that physical activity has enormous health benefits for everyone, especially for people with long term conditions. More information is available from the Senior Development Officer at Paths for All. 

Health Inequalities Cross Party Group: Men’s Health Inequalities
The next meeting of the Cross Party Group on Health Inequalities will take place at 6pm on the 21 January. Richard Lyle MSP, Co Convenor of the CPG, will chair this meeting on men's health inequalities, with speakers: Martin Tod, Chief Executive, Men’s Health Forum, Nathan Sparling, Chief Executive Officer, HIV Scotland and Craig Wilson, General Manager of Big Hearts Community Trust.

Cross Party Group on Health Inequalities: Study Visit- Art in Hospitals
Join us on the afternoon of 28 January for an opportunity for CPG members to engage with a practical approach to addressing health inequalities in a clinical setting. The charity Art in Hospital enables patients to develop their own creativity through participation in a visual arts programme in hospitals, care homes and the community. Barbara McEwan Gulliver, Artistic Director, will give a short presentation which will be followed by an opportunity to observe a workshop and meet with patients, clinicians, artists, family members and staff.

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.

 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 model aims to support third sector organisations to explain, measure and prove their contribution to tackling inequalities. The longer term aim is to support local authorities, NHS boards and Public Health Scotland to have a clearer, evidence based understanding of the third sector’s contribution to tackling inequalities, through the creation and use of a meaningful measurement tool. This workshop is a collaboration between three members of the Inequalities Learning Collaborative: VHS, Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS) and CHEX (Community Health Exchange), with additional support from NHS Health Scotland.

Policy News

Health Policy Officers Network – Christmas Lunch
The Health Policy Officers Network (HPON) is a peer support network of health policy officers who meet to discuss current policy issues. If you are interested in joining the network or would like to attend the networking Christmas lunch on Friday 13 December from 12:30 - 2:30pm at the Mansfield Traquair Centre in Edinburgh please get in touch with VHS.

Forensic mental health services: independent review
This is an independent review looking into how forensic mental health services are being delivered in hospitals, prisons and the community across Scotland. A call for evidence opened on 14 October 2019 and closes on 17 January 2020. 

Mental Health Strategy report and counselling services for schools announced
The Scottish Government has published the second progress report on the Mental Health Strategy 2017-27. The Government notes that 19 of the 40 actions in the strategy have been completed or are near completion, while the remainder are still in progress or are not yet underway.

Health & Sport Committee publishes report on social prescribing
The Health & Sport Committee has published a report arguing social prescribing “is key to tackling Scotland’s health issues”. The report found that social prescribing promotes physical activity while tackling social isolation, reducing the likelihood of developing a long-term condition and minimising dependence on prescriptions.  The Committee called for integration authorities to allocate 5% of their budgets to social prescribing over the next two years and suggests the majority of any investment is spent in more deprived areas. The report also asks the Scottish Government to provide an update on the recruitment of 250 additional link workers.

Progress report on the Fairer Scotland Action Plan published
The Scottish Government published the latest progress report on the Fairer Scotland Action Plan, which suggests “significant progress” has been made regarding the reduction of poverty and inequality. 

VHS Members' News & Events

Jan-Bert’s blog: Creating a Shared Space for Culture and Health
Jan-Bert van den Berg, Director of Artlink Edinburgh and the Lothians asks: 'So how do we reconcile the intrinsic value of culture with specific and sometime urgent demands of health and social care?' 

Children in Hospital Survey
The latest Children in Hospital Survey 2018-19 which takes an in depth look at the provision of parental visiting, family facilities and ward procedures in Scottish hospitals that admit children and young people has been released by Children’s Health Scotland. Recommendations outlined in the key findings are: improvements in the provision of information, education and food.

Free Energy Advice from Home Energy Scotland
Home Energy Scotland (HES) is a free energy advice service funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Energy Saving Trust. It delivers impartial telephone and face-to-face energy advice directly to householders across Scotland, working closely with partners who refer clients to them. HES partners with more than 1,000 organisations, from local energy advice services to the NHS and Scottish Fire & Rescue. HES's aim is to remove householders from fuel poverty which negatively affects physical and mental health. Lack of mobility or other health issues can mean that people need to heat their home for longer and to a higher temperature than normal. For many, this can be too costly, resulting in debt and further ill health or choosing between heating and other essentials. By referring people you work with to HES, you’re helping them towards:Lower energy bills, A more comfortable and healthy home and A lower carbon footprint. Call 0131 555 9151 or email to find out more.

Help shape ALISS (A local information system for Scotland)
ALISS is an online service directory that helps people find support in their community. The ALISS team at the ALLIANCE is carrying out research to better understand how information about community services, activities and groups, is accessed and shared.  They want to speak to citizens, volunteers and staff working for third and public sector organisations. To get involved or find out more email: Digital Health and Care User Researcher or Phone: 0141 404 0239.

A million elderly people skipping meals because they find eating alone too lonely
Almost a million older people in the UK confess to relying on ready meals and convenience foods to keep them fed with nearly a quarter  saying they skip their daily meals at least three times a week.
The research, commissioned by Royal Voluntary Service  to highlight the importance of the charity’s lunch clubs, identified loneliness as often the root cause of these eating habits.

Heather’s Blog: Enabling access to screening
Heather Armstrong, Campaigns Coordinator at MS Society Scotland, calls for accessible cancer screening for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), other disabilities and long-term health conditions. She asks other charities and organisations to join MS Society Scotland in working together to respond in a way that is mutually beneficial for the people they support.

Health in Mind’s training courses
HiM training courses taking place January - March 2020 offer nationally recognised, certificated courses which can count towards Continuing Professional Development. Courses include Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid (general information about mental health difficulties), ASIST, Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid for Young People and Trauma Training. Find out more  (including costs): here  and book onto current courses on Eventbrite here. If you require more information please contact: training. 

Other News

Social security research and statistics events
Scottish Government are holding two events on 19 December 2019 to provide an update on social security research and statistics. The events will provide an introduction to and an update on how research and statistics are underpinning the design and live running of Scottish social security. There will be plenty of time for discussion and questions and both events will follow the same format. When registering, please advise if you have any accessibility or other requirements to be able to attend.
Register here for the morning event in Edinburgh  at the Scottish Government, Victoria Quay, EH6 6QQ
Register here for the afternoon event in Glasgow at the ALLIANCE, 349 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4AA

Poverty and Inequality Commission's Review of the Local Child Poverty Action Reports
The Poverty and Inequality Commission have published its review of the Local Child Poverty Action Reports. Overall, The Commission were impressed with the quantity and range of actions  in the action reports and they are also interested in feedback on the review and how useful it is.

Cancer CPG calls for urgent action on diagnostic staff shortages
The Cross Party Group on Cancer has called for urgent action on diagnostic staff shortages in order to safeguard cancer services. An inquiry by the CPG among its members has found the Scottish Government’s plans to tackle staff shortages have failed to take a long-term approach and have been insufficiently funded. 

Looking Ahead to the Scottish Government's Draft Budget 2020-20: Valuing The Third Sector
The Equalities and Human Rights Committee report highlights the funding challenges for the third sector. The report explores the public sector funding to third sector organisations that deliver national equalities and human rights priorities.

 JRF Report: Poverty in Scotland 2019
The Report looks at the impact that governments have made on poverty over the past 20 years and how this evidence can be used to inform policy development for the future. It underlines the importance of
housing costs, alongside social security and work, in solving poverty in Scotland.

Righting the wrongs: A manifesto for tackling poverty
The Poverty Alliance have published Righting the wrongs: A manifesto for tackling poverty, which outlines their key asks for the next UK Government. It calls for action in four areas: Taking an all-government approach to solving poverty; Building a more compassionate social security system;  Designing a labour market that works for everyone and Protecting people on low incomes from the impact of Brexit.

Summary Guidance On Lobbying For Charities
A short guide and checklist to help third sector organisations understand their obligations under the Lobbying Act 2014. The document provides a brief explanation of what charities can and cannot do, as well as some guidance on assessing whether you are undertaking regulated activity and are likely to need to register with the Electoral Commission

The Right to Food in 90 Seconds: New Animation
The Scottish Human Rights Commission and Nourish Scotland have launched a new animation on the Right to Food in Scotland. The 90 second animation explains what the right to food means, and what’s needed to make it real for people in Scotland.

Citizens Advice Scotland publishes annual report on advice in Scotland
Citizens Advice Scotland has published its annual Advice in Scotland report which reviews the most common issues: social security, debt, employment, housing, legal issues and finance,  on which people consult the Citizens Advice network. 

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
Fairer Scotland Action Plan
Timing of Scottish Budget 2020-21
Social housing to be more energy efficient
Mental health strategy 2017-2027: second progress report
Mental health in schools
Tackling homelessness together
Homelessness equalities statistics published
Health and social care delivery plan: progress report
Good Food Nation - programme of measures: 2019 update
Attracting more people into frontline healthcare
Improving perinatal mental health
Supporting people who are homeless and their pets

Dates for your diary
21 Jan CPG Health Inequalities: Men’s Health
28 Jan CPG Health Inequalities: Study Visit
19 & 20 Feb VHS at The Gathering
25 Feb Celebrating Community-led Health - CHEX turns 20 - follow @CHEX_Org
14 May CPG Health Inequalities: Drugs, Deprivation, Discrimination & Disease
1 April  QNIS Annual Conference Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
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.

Fully Funded Training Opportunity
Healthy Working Lives are running an IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety & Health) Managing Safely course on the 13th, 14th, 20th & 21st of February 2020 and  would like to open this up to and attract colleagues from the Voluntary Sector. The course is run over four days – a Thursday and Friday on two consecutive weeks.  Participants must attend all four days to pass and gain the certificate. For more information on the course please check out the IOSH website. Potential delegates can book a place by telephoning: 0800 019 2211 or by email. 

Smoking and Mental Health: Understanding the IMPACT
Wednesday 11 December 2019 / Wednesday 26 February 2020 (both 10.00-12.00)
Free, two-hour nationally-recognised training around the links between smoking and mental health is available for third-sector organisations to help address the inequalities linked to higher smoking rates amongst people experiencing poor mental health.

The training aims to equip workers who support people with lived experience of mental health problems with the knowledge, skills and confidence to initiate a conversation on smoking, and to discuss options for supporting people who are ready to quit.  It is based on a Guidance pack, developed by ASH Scotland, which offers practical solutions to this complex issue – and includes evidence on the effect that tobacco smoke has on reducing the efficacy of many mental health medications. The training comprises a one-hour online session (to be completed in advance) and a two-hour face-to-face session delivered in central Edinburgh.​

Smoking and Mental Health: IMPACT Training for Trainers
 12 February and 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